Child and Young Person’s development Area of development | 0 – 1 year | 2 – 4 years | Physical | Reflexes –Sucking, Grasping, Drinking, Eating.Lifting head unaided.Latterly, crawling, rolling over and possibly standing or cruising. | Walking, pointing with arms, starting to dress themselves, holding light objects.Interacting with balls, climbing stairs or furniture, using crayons etc with more controlled, starting to run with confidence and feeding themselves. | Communication | Listening to adults and other older children.Gurgling and attempts at sounds.Listening to songs and games increasing pattern awareness. | Putting words together.Increase in vocab (around 200 words.)Use of negatives.Use of plurals. | Intellectual/cognitive | Awareness of surroundings.Awareness of familiar faces/people.Enjoy repetitive activities. | Colour recognition.Shape recognition.Identifying different items and pointing towards them. | Social, emotional, behavioural, moral | Starting to find own identity.Initial relationship bonds with parents, siblings, carers etc.Awareness of change in routines and people may create distress. | Temper tantrums.Starting to do things for themselves.Understanding of appropriate behaviour (most of the time) with siblings and peers.More confidence to explore their environment. |
Area of development | 4 – 7 years | 7 – 12 years | Physical | Using trikes and perhaps bicycles to explore.Have worked out “stronger foot and hand” by this age. Dominant side.Cutting, drawing, writing – fine motor skills.Hopping, kicking a ball with instep.Better eye hand coordination, throwing in the general direction of a target. | Interest in hobbies promoting increase in fine motor skills, e.g development in football, chipping, placing passes, use of both feet, goal keeping, catching shots, diving etc.Possibility of “early” puberty stage in some children.