INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE STAGES OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

The term "early childhood" refers to the years from birth to approximately age eight. During this period, rapid growth occurs in physical, emotional and intellectual development. Although each child develops at his own rate, there is a sequence of developmental milestones that progress from infancy to adulthood. Any given child may progress faster or slower than another, but children enter clearly defined stages at predictable times, as set forth by Piaget's theory of child development.

1. Infancy to 3 Months Old

   • Infants arrive into the world with little more than reflexes and an instinct to grasp and suck, but quickly learn that crying is a way to communicate their needs. Within the first four weeks, babies learn to produce different cries to communicate different needs such as hunger or discomfort. Infants may stop crying at the sound of their mother's voice and smile in response. Between months one and three, infants begin to smile at other family members, vocalize joy with squeals and coos, laugh out loud in reaction to other people and begin to babble.

   3 to 12 Months Old

   • From 3 to 9 months old, babies begin to smile at their reflection in the mirror, respond to voices and begin to vocalize consonant sounds. They also begin to respond to their name and understand the word "no." Between nine and 12 months, babies begin to say "Mama" and "Dada" and understand simple commands like "Get the toy," or "Come here."

     
     

   12 to 18 Months

   • By 12 months of age, children develop a three-to-five-word vocabulary and use hand or body gestures to communicate. They may develop specific sounds or motions to represent concepts. By 18 months of age, most children develop a vocabulary of 10 words or more, identify common pictures of animals or household objects and understand the meaning of the word "mine." They may resist changes in routine and become defiant.

     
     

   18 to 24 Months Old

   • Vocabulary increases and young toddlers may put two or three words together to communicate, point to body parts and name common pictures and objects. Toddlers request food or drink when thirsty or hungry. Children 2 years old can identify and avoid hazards such as stoves and stairs. Although they understand the concept of "me" and "I' they often refer to themselves by name and speak in three- to four-word sentences.

     
     

   3 to 5 Years Old

   • By age 3, children have attained a vocabulary of 1,000 words, understand the concepts of big and little, can count to three, know their first and last names and can answer simple questions. By 4 years of age, children typically have developed a vocabulary of 1,500 words or more and have mastered over 2,000 by their fifth birthday. They understand comparative terms like "tall," "taller," "tallest," can identify relative amounts, have a rudimentary sense of time such as with the words "yesterday" or "tomorrow" and have a sense of the time of day (morning, afternoon, night). Most identify colors and can count to 10. Children at this age enjoy nursery rhymes, nonsense rhymes and playing with words. Four- and 5-year-olds ask many questions, usually involving why or how something happens.

     
     

   6 to 8 Years Old

   • During this period of growth, children develop the ability to understand perspectives or wishes of others and are able to think in logical and rational ways. They understand that others may hold opinions and have feelings that differ from their own. Academically children around the age of 6 are ready to begin more complex tasks like reading, writing and performing mathematics. As they progress from 6 to 8 years old, they are able to take on more demanding tasks in school.