Latasha Walton
February 27, 2011
Checkpoint: Characteristics of Developmental Periods

During early childhood as an infant they are unaware of their surroundings. Early childhood is a time of tremendous growth across all areas of development. The dependent newborn grows into a young person who can take care of his or her own body and interact effectively with others. They know mommy and daddy from their smell of the body and can recognize the voice. But they are not able to take control of any objects. They don’t know how to hold their own bottle or sit up on their own. They need guidance at all times to assist them while learning this is what mommy or daddy do to make me either more comfortable or to adjust to common things like trying get me to hold a bottle. Physically, between birth and age three a child typically doubles in height and quadruples in weight. Bodily proportions also shift, so that the infant, whose head accounts for almost one-fourth of total body length, becomes a toddler with a more balanced, adult-like appearance. Despite these rapid physical changes, the typical three-year-old has mastered many skills, including sitting, walking, toilet training, using a spoon, scribbling, and sufficient hand-eye coordination to catch and throw a ball. Between three and five years of age, children continue to grow rapidly and begin to develop fine-motor skills. By age five most children demonstrate fairly good control of pencils, crayons, and scissors. Gross motor accomplishments may include the ability to skip and balance on one foot. Physical growth slows down between five and eight years of age, while body proportions and motor skills become more refined. The time from birth to eight years is a critical period in the development of many foundational skills in all areas of development. Increased awareness of, and ability to detect, developmental