Here are the stages of development and the age in motor, cognitive, emotional, and social development:
Motor development is the development of the body’s movement and coordination. It includes the development of gross motor skills (e.g., walking, running, jumping), fine motor skills (e.g., grasping, holding, manipulating objects), and perceptual-motor skills (e.g., eye-hand coordination, balance).
- Infancy (0-2 years): Babies develop from being completely dependent on others for movement to being able to crawl, walk, and run. They also develop fine motor skills such as grasping and holding objects.
- Toddlerhood (2-3 years): Toddlers continue to develop their gross and fine motor skills. They may be able to jump, climb, and ride a tricycle. They may also be able to draw, build with blocks, and use utensils to eat.
- Preschool (3-5 years): Preschoolers continue to develop their gross and fine motor skills. They may be able to skip, hop, and throw a ball. They may also be able to dress themselves, use scissors, and draw more complex pictures.
- School age (6-12 years): School-aged children continue to develop their gross and fine motor skills. They may be able to participate in sports, play musical instruments, and do other activities that require coordination.
- Adolescence (13-19 years): Adolescents experience a growth spurt and their bodies become more muscular. They may also develop coordination and balance that allows them to participate in more advanced sports and activities.
Cognitive development is the development of the mind and how it processes information. It includes the development of attention, memory, language, thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
- Infancy (0-2 years): Babies develop from being unable to focus their attention for more than a few seconds to being able to follow simple instructions and explore their surroundings. They also develop object permanence, which is the understanding that objects exist even when they are out of sight.
- Toddlerhood (2-3 years): Toddlers develop their attention skills and can now focus on tasks for longer periods of time. They also begin to use language to communicate their needs and wants. They may also start to pretend play, which is a form of symbolic thinking.
- Preschool (3-5 years): Preschoolers continue to develop their attention skills and can now focus on tasks for even longer periods of time. They also develop their memory skills and can now remember things that happened recently. They may also start to learn how to read and write.
- School age (6-12 years): School-aged children continue to develop their cognitive skills. They may learn how to do math, solve problems, and think critically. They may also start to develop their abstract thinking skills.
- Adolescence (13-19 years): Adolescents continue to develop their cognitive skills. They may learn how to think more independently and critically. They may also start to develop their moral reasoning skills.
Emotional development is the development of the ability to experience, understand, and express emotions. It also includes the development of coping skills and self-regulation.
- Infancy (0-2 years): Babies are born with the ability to experience basic emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, and fear. They also start to learn how to express these emotions through facial expressions, body language, and vocalizations.
- Toddlerhood (2-3 years): Toddlers start to develop a wider range of emotions and can now express them more complexly. They may also start to learn how to regulate their emotions, which means being able to control how they express their emotions.
- Preschool (3-5 years): Preschoolers continue to develop their emotional skills. They may start to understand the emotions of others and how to respond to them in an appropriate way. They may also start to develop empathy, which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.
- School age (6-12 years): School-aged children continue to develop their emotional skills. They may start to learn how to deal with difficult emotions such as anger and sadness. They may also start to develop a sense of identity and self-worth.
- Adolescence (13-19 years): Adolescents experience a number of emotional changes as they go through puberty. They may experience mood swings, intense emotions, and a sense of confusion about their identity. They may also start to develop romantic relationships and a sense of independence.
Social development is the development of the ability to interact with others. It includes the development of social skills such as communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution.
- Infancy (0-2 years): Babies are born with a natural ability to interact with others. They smile, coo, and cry to communicate their needs and wants. They also start to learn how to respond to the facial expressions and vocalizations of others.
- Toddlerhood (2-3 years): Toddlers start to develop a wider range of social skills. They may start to play with other children, share toys, and take turns. They may also start to understand the concept of fairness and start to develop empathy for others.
- Preschool (3-5 years): Preschoolers continue to develop their social skills. They may start to play in larger groups, make friends, and follow rules. They may also start to understand the difference between right and wrong and start to develop a sense of conscience.
- School age (6-12 years): School-aged children continue to develop their social skills. They may start to participate in team sports, join clubs, and develop close friendships. They may also start to understand the concept of social hierarchies and start to develop a sense of self-esteem.
- Adolescence (13-19 years): Adolescents experience a number of social changes as they go through puberty. They may start to date, develop romantic relationships, and join social groups. They may also start to question authority and develop their own sense of identity.
It is important to note that the stages of development are not always clear-cut. Children may develop at different rates and in different ways. However, the general milestones outlined above provide a good overview of the typical developmental process.
If you are concerned about your child’s development, please talk to your doctor. They can assess your child’s development and provide you with resources and support.
