Early Childhood Development

Early Childhood Development

Introduction

Early childhood development and learning are multi dimensional. When a child is very young, he tends to develop mentally and physically at a much faster pace than adults and older children. Development in one domain influences the development in other domains. A toddler develops his knowledge, abilities and skills through a dynamic interaction of the physical, cognitive, social/emotional and creative areas (Evans, Meyers, Ilfeld, 2000). Every child is different in terms of learning and development that he acquires in the early years of his life. The skills that he learns are also different from what the other children learns at the same age. The differences in learning and development are due to the mental and physical abilities which differ in each child. The development of a child is also dependent on many other factors other than his own mental and physical strengths and abilities. The structure of the family also affects the development of the children in their early childhood (Gardner 1973). Similarly, the Familial, socioeconomic, and cultural context also influence the development and learning of children. The following pages will discuss about the development in children in their years of early childhood. It will also throw light on the problems, the needs and the recommended conditions which are best for bringing up an optimum level of development in children.

Early Childhood Development

Early childhood is one of the most important phases of life which can help and affect the development that occurs in the human being all their lives. During their early childhood, children undergo a series of rapid development (Lidz 2003). The development, which the children undergo, is highly influenced by the environment that the children are brought up in. Most of the problems that people face when they become adults have their roots implanted in the early childhood. Such problems include issues related to mental health, heart disease, criminality, obesity, and poor numeracy and literacy. According to the World Health Organization, more than two hundred million children who are under the age of five, fail to develop their cognitive and social potential in their early years. As a consequence of the poor development in their early childhood, these children tend to become under achievers in their schools and subsequently, in their lives.

Early Brain and Body Development

Early brain development is one of the most crucial and important phases of the early child development. It is the age when children are very sensitive to changes in their environment and tend to learn from their surroundings. During the first three years of life, adequate nutrition and stimulation is necessary to develop the brain of the child as per the standards. If the environment that the children are brought up in is stimulating, the development and learning of the children is maximum. The development of language and cognition is also important and crucial in the early years of development. The first six months till the first three years of life are very important for developing the mental abilities of ...