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Early childhood development serves as the stepping stone for children to build a solid educational foundation and pave their way toward future academic success. It embodies social, physical, emotional, and cognitive aspects of a child’s learning potential. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) specifies four broad stages of early development for children. Read on to learn more about these stages and their significance in children’s mental and physical growth.

The 4 Stages of Early Childhood Development

Prenatal

This stage is further divided into subcategories, spanning over different phases of a pregnancy. It encompasses nutritional and prenatal care for the expectant mother to ensure proper fetal growth and nourishment. Access to quality health care is the key to keep a tab on the child’s muscular and organ development.

The First Year

Early Childhood DevelopmentThe first year post-birth is crucial for introducing your child to new words, textures, and foods. Their rapidly evolving brains are quick to absorb new vocabulary, mimic different sounds, and develop emotional responses. At this stage, early childhood educators especially emphasize reading to little ones for a few minutes each day.

One to Three Years

The entry to toddlerhood marks a whole new world of greater independence and growing vocabulary for your child. This is when most children begin to recognize bodily cues and are ready to be potty trained. They can also start comprehending basic logic and love to master new physical skills.

Preschool & Early Elementary Years

Becoming more interactive and social could be a sign your child is ready to step into the world of formal education. Longer attention spans help them retain information for longer periods of time and help them build on the skills they learned at home. Elementary-aged children are also ready to learn basic reading and writing with proper enunciation.

 

If you want to aid in your little one’s early childhood development, look no further than Christian Chapel Day Care in Onalaska, WI. Their programs are designed to capitalize on the extensive learning potential younger children possess, and they tailor all their lessons around your child’s mental and physical development requirements. Give them a call today at (608) 783-5722 to schedule a tour of their facility, and visit their website for more information on what they do.

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