Toddler growth and development includes their cognitive, language, physical and social/emotional development.
Let’s talk about how these areas progress as they grow!
Toddler growth and development includes many overarching areas or domains of child development.
They include:
They are overarching because many activities help toddlers develop in many areas. An example would include a toddler telling another toddler, “Your shoes are purple. I like purple.”
This requires the use of words (language), color recognition (cognitive) and talking to another person about a topic (social/emotional).
Let’s break down the basics of the four main toddler growth and development domains.
Cognitive development refers to a child’s ability to communicate as well as solve problems in their world as they explore it and think about it.
They use their observations and skills to develop more abstract thinking about the world around them as they interact with the materials in the classroom and as they talk with their peers and the adults in their space.
Their cognitive development skills help toddlers try new tasks as well as new challenges or problems they approach and also helps them to join in and cooperate with others while playing and learning.
Toddler language development refers to learning and speaking language as well as their understanding of the spoken word, how to communicate and how to express themselves to others.
Their language development helps in communication with others as well as helps them with behavior management and helps improve their own self-regulation skills.
Toddler physical development refers to the development of both their gross (large) muscles and motor skills as well as their fine (small) muscles and motor skills.
Gross motor skills refer to large muscles and how they help toddlers move their bodies and interact in their space.
Fine motor skills refer to the smaller muscles (such as their fingers and wrists) to explore and use smaller materials such as a small ball, a crayon and more.
Their physical development is crucial during the toddler years in order for them to have physical balance while standing, walking or running as well as learning how to grasp, toss and throw items and balance as they walk.
Toddler social/emotional development refers to the abilities to interact with others in appropriate ways while learning to consider the social and or emotional needs of others.
Their social/emotional development allows them to learn new things with confidence, develop healthy self-esteem, observe and consider the emotions of others and build positive relationships with others.
Your toddler classroom is an environment that supports all areas of toddler growth and development.
The interactions and materials you provide help them grow and develop in these areas. Knowing toddler growth and development basics will help you to provide what they need.