Child's Time Inc.

Infant: Age 1 month - 1

Social and Emotional Development - They begin to develop trust as their parents meet their needs such as changing their diapers when needed, feeding them when they are hungry, and holding them when they cry. When frightened, infants cry and look surprised and afraid. They cry to express anger, pain and hunger. It is their way of communicating. They are easily excited or upset. They need to be cradled and comforted. It seems as if they cannot tell where their bodies end and someone else's begins. Infants smile in response to a pleasant sound or a full stomach. At about six weeks, they smile in response to someone else. By four months, they smile broadly, laugh when pleased, and learn to recognize faces and voices of parents.

Intellectual Development - Infants babble, coo and gurgle. They study their hands and feet. They turn to locate the source of sounds. Infants can focus on and follow moving objects with their eyes. They explore things with their mouths. They put anything they can hold into their mouths. They cry in different ways to express hunger, anger and pain. They forget about objects that they cannot see.

Toddler: Age 1-2

When children learn to walk, they are called toddlers. Usually this term is applied to one and two-year-old children. This is a stage in the growth of a child and not a specific age. The toddler stage is very important in a child's life. It is the time between infancy and childhood when a child learns and grows in many ways. Everything that happens to the toddler is meaningful. With each stage or skill the child masters, a new stage begins. This growth is unique to each child. Children have their own time-table. During the toddler stage, most children learn to walk, talk, solve problems, relate to others, and more. One major task for the toddler is to learn to be independent. That is why toddlers want to do things for themselves, have their own ideas about how things should happen, and use "no" many times each day.

The toddler stage is characterized by much growth and change, mood swings, and some negativity. Toddlers are long on will and short on skill. This is why they are often frustrated and "misbehave." Some adults call the toddler stage "the terrible twos." Toddlers, bursting with energy and ideas, need to explore their environment and begin defining themselves as separate people. They want to be independent and yet they are still very dependent. One of the family day care provider's greatest challenges is to balance toddlers' need for in-dependence with their need for discipline. Toddlers are very concerned with their own needs and ideas. This is why we cannot expect them to share.

Toddlers sometimes get frustrated because they do not have the language skills to express themselves. Often they have difficulty separating themselves from their parents and other people who are important to them. Adults who work with toddlers often find it helpful to appreciate toddlers' need to do things their way.

Usually between two and one half and three years of age, children begin to take an interest in being toilet trained, and by age three they are ready to be known as preschoolers. By this age, most children are toilet trained, have developed verbal skills, are continuing to be more independent, and are taking an active interest in the world around them.

Remember that all toddlers are different and reach the various stages at different times.

Preschooler: Age 3-4

Three and four-year-old children are often called preschoolers. Preschool children are making developmental strides and express an interest in the world around them. They want to touch, taste, smell, hear, and test things for themselves. They are eager to learn. They learn by experiencing and by doing. Preschoolers learn from their play. They are busy developing skills, using language, and struggling to gain inner control.

Preschoolers want to establish themselves as separate from their parents. They are more independent than toddlers. They can express their needs since they have greater command of language.

Fears often develop during the preschool years. Common fears include new places and experiences and separation from parents and other important people. You can expect the preschool child to test you over and over again. Preschoolers may still have trouble getting along with other children, and sharing may still be difficult. Because of their developing imaginations and rich fantasy lives, they may have trouble telling fantasy from reality. They may also talk about imaginary friends. Preschoolers need clear and simple rules so that they know the boundaries of acceptable behavior.

Remember that all preschoolers are different and reach the various stages at different times.

Scool Age: 5 and up

Physical Development - They are very active with lots of energy. Their fine motor and large motor skills have become much better.

Social/Emotional Development - They have a strong need to feel accepted and worthwhile. They show their ability to be independent by being disobedient, using back-talk and being rebellious. They prefer individual achievements over competition. They like encouragement and suggestions over competition. They still look to adults for approval. They begin to take responsibility for their own actions. They like to join organized groups. They prefer to be with members of their own sex. They look up to and imitate older youth. They are beginning to build and understand friendship. They want to be accepted by the peer group.

Intellectual Development - They need opportunities to share thoughts and reactions. They see things as either "black or white." They have interests which change often. They are easily motivated and eager to try new things. They usually do best when the work is done in small pieces. They need guidance from adults to stay at a task to achieve their best.

The safety, health and happiness of the children comes first, this is the "Child's Time"

-Chavez-