Child Development Glossary

Child development involves the biological, psychological and emotional changes that occur in human beings between birth and the conclusion of adolescence.

Childhood is divided into three stages of life which include early childhood, middle childhood, and late childhood (preadolescence)

• Babbling – Consonant-vowel sounds produced by young children, such as “ba ba ba” and “da da da.”
• Cognitive Development – How children think, explore and figure things out. The development of knowledge, skills, problem solving and dispositions that help children to think about and understand the world around them.
• Cognitive Milestones – While every child is unique, children develop in precise, predictable ways. These are called developmental milestones. Cognitive milestones help you understand how your child learns, thinks, explores and figures things out.
• Communication and Language Development – Communication and language development are about more than talking. It means all the different ways a child understands and communicates, only part of which is spoken words. Some children use sign language or other means of communication.
• Communication and Language Milestones – While every child is unique, children develop in particular, predictable ways. These are called developmental milestones. Communication and language milestones help you understand how your child learns to understand and communicate with others.
• Cruising – A method of moving used by babies before they begin walking. Typically babies will pull themselves to a standing position and take steps while holding onto furniture or other objects.
• Developmental Delay – A developmental delay describes a child not reaching one or more development milestones by an expected period.
• Developmental Domains – Children grow and develop rapidly in their first five years across the four main areas, or domains, of development. These areas are motor (physical), communication and language, cognitive, social and emotional.
• Developmental Milestones – While every child is unique, children develop in specific, predictable ways. These are called developmental milestones or simply milestones. They describe the specific skills a young child acquires by certain ages in the four areas, or domains, of development: motor (physical), communication and language, cognitive, and social and emotional.
• Developmental Screening – A comprehensive review of a child’s development completed by medical providers, public health agencies, Head Start, public schools and other qualified professionals. Often developmental screening is part of a well-child checkup and may be done using parent questionnaires.
• Early Childhood Screening – A complete review of a child’s development, conducted only by school districts, that identifies potential health or developmental problems. It is recommended at age three and is a requirement for entrance to kindergarten.
• Early Intervention – A set of services for eligible children and their families. These services can include special instruction, physical/occupational/speech therapy, family support and service coordination.
• Follow Along Program – A statewide developmental screening program conducted by local public health agencies. Parents receive questionnaires in the mail about their child’s development and are given activities they can do at home with their child and tips on how to promote healthy growth.
• Infant and Toddler Intervention – A state program providing services for children birth through two years of age experiencing delays in their development and who meet state eligibility criteria. Eligible children and their families receive special instruction, physical/occupational/speech therapy, family support and service coordination services.
• Motor Development – Motor development means the physical growth and strengthening of a child’s bones, muscles and ability to move and touch his/her surroundings. A child’s motor development falls into two categories: fine and gross. Fine motor skills refer to small movements in the hands, wrists, fingers, feet, toes, lips and tongue. Gross motor skills involve developing muscles that enable babies to hold their heads, sit and crawl, and eventually walk, run, jump and skip.
• Motor Milestones – While every child is unique, children develop in specific, predictable ways. These are called developmental milestones. Motor or physical milestones help you understand how your child is learning to control muscles and move his or her body.
• Preschool Special Education – Services provided by school districts designed to enable young children with developmental delays, ages three to five, to be active and successful participants during the early childhood years and in the future in various settings. These services are designed to meet the needs of preschool children who meet state education criteria for developmental delay or disability and are experiencing challenges in their learning and development. Children may be eligible if they have a significant delay in developing their ability to learn, speak or play. Services are individually tailored to meet the unique learning needs of each child.
• Social and Emotional Development – Social and emotional development means how children start to understand who they are, what they feel, and what to expect when interacting with others. It is the development of being able to form and sustain positive relationships; experience, manage and express emotions; and explore and engage with the environment.
• Social and Emotional Milestones – While every child is unique, children develop in some predictable ways. These are called developmental milestones. Social and emotional milestones help you understand how your child is learning about feelings, expressing emotions and forming relationships with others.
• Social and Emotional Screening – Social and emotional screening is part of the developmental screening process. It focuses on the early identification of possible delays in the expected development of a child’s ability to express and regulate emotions, form close and secure relationships, and explore his/her environment and learn.
• Tummy Time – Placing a baby on his/her tummy on a blanket on the floor for short periods when awake to encourage the baby to lift and turn his/her head. This technique helps strengthen the baby’s muscles for healthy physical and mental development.

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