Understand the expected pattern of development for children and young people from birth – 19 years
Each child and young person will follow an expected pattern of development, focusing mainly the skills they are learning rather than the physical growth. Although when discussed the development of children it focuses on the skills it is undeniable that both skills and growth of children and young people are linked and will impact on the development on the child. Development of children and young people are describe in five different areas; physical, cognitive, communication, social and emotional and moral development.
Physical development describes the development of the physical movements. This is divided into fine motor skills, gross motor skills and locomotive movements. Fine motor skills involved skills such as tying shoes laces and gross motor skills involving larger movements such as throwing a ball. Locomotive movements involved the development and learning of movements such as balance and walking. The development of physical aspects will enable children and young people to develop their independence.
Cognitive development is also known as the intellectual development area of a child’s development. This area of development is relatively large encompassing the way in which the brain processes information. This area will cover all areas including remembering a name of face of someone to being to distinguish between two items such as colours. Cognitive skills that will also be learnt during this area of development will include imagination and is found to link closely to language and communication.
Communication is the area of development which involves a person being able to interact with other people and understanding their communications towards others. Communication includes talking, reading and writing and the use of gestures. Communication and language are linked closely to cognitive development as a