Developmental Areas

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Cognitive Development

Developmental Focus: Logic, Math and Science

Ultimate Goal:  The goal is for children to integrate knowledge and experiences as they construct new concepts.

Objectives:  Children will have opportunities to:

1. group objects and events according to self determined order similarities and differences (classification)
2. arrange objects or events in a self determined order (seriation and graduated order)
3. compare numbers of objects and correctly use words such as:  some, all, none
4. practice touch counting and identifying numbers
5. develop memory skills (games, songs, rhymes)
6. match and name colors
7. experiment with alternate approaches to reach achievements 
8. create and carry out a plan to achieve a specific goal 
9. apply rules of cause and effect, gained from previous experiences to new situations 
10. use scientific methods to observe, hypothesize, predict, test, and evaluate
11. acquire factual information and learn appropriate names and terms
12. use comparison words (bigger than, smaller than, more, less, etc.)
13. relate number-words and objects while counting
14. describe spatial relations by using position and direction words
15. describe sequence and time (yesterday, tomorrow, morning, afternoon, night)
16. practice thoughtful decision making 
17. develop and defend personal values 
18. demonstrate or develop moral alertness and/or reasoning 
19. understand virtues and requirements of virtue based action 
20. understand basic needs of self and others 
21. can evaluate behavior and practice perspective taking 

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Language and Literacy Development

Developmental Focus: Spoken Language and Prewriting and Reading Skills

Ultimate Goal: 

Spoken Language:  The goal is for children to develop language skills through daily situations

Prewriting and Reading Skills:  The goal is for children to develop prewriting and reading skills through symbols, language, play, books, songs, and practice.

Objectives: 

Spoken Language - Children will have opportunities to:

1. listen to and understand others
2. listen to and actively observe songs and stories
3. appropriately express simple feelings such as: angry, happy, sad, and afraid
4. use words to identify objects
5. understand and follow instructions
6. verbalize with others during play
7. respond to simple questions
8. engage in conversation about what they did each day (recall)
9. discover what makes sense to them and make adjustments or ask questions
10. engage in songs and repeating rhymes
11. use language to solve problems
12. give information and ask questions
13. engage in conversation about ethical and social issues
14. discuss issues that are "real" to a young child

 Prewriting and Reading Skills - Children will have opportunities to:

1. identify pictures, symbols, and match words
2. identify the letters in their names
3. practice identifying letters, numbers and writing
4. look at and "read" picture books, retell stories
5. ask questions about a story that he/she is reading or is being read to him/her 
6. practice fine motor skills with holding a pencil
7. practice left to right progression
8. illustrate and dictate stories
9. see that pictures are an important part of the story
10. respond to picture books with discussion showing empathy 
11. has the opportunity to raise awareness of the needs of others and personal actions through books 
12. uses picture books as a tool to help humans solve problems 

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Creative Development

Developmental Focus:  Imagination & Exploring Art Media

Ultimate Goals:  

Imagination:  The goal is for the children to use their self-desire and objects in their social setting to create using imagination.

Exploring Art Media:  The goal is for children to experience a wide range of media through play, art, dance, dramatics, movement, imagination and nature.

Objectives:  

Imagination - Children will have opportunities to:

1. explore objects that they can use to create with

2. engage in art with opportunities for expanding their creative expression and imagination

3. engage in self-directed art projects

4. create structures of their own design with blocks  (also developing concept of size, number, shapes, and weight)

5. use creative expressions (words, facial expression, body movements)

6. develop interaction with others

7. increase imagination through role play (take on a role of another)

8. introduce creative dramatics, which adds to cognitive, social, and emotional development

Exploring Art Media - Children will have opportunities to:

1. explore art materials, (i.e. finger paint, scissors, paste, glue, tearing, paint with different textures, tape, experiment with mixing colors to make new colors, etc.)

2. make choices about what materials to use

3. make decisions about how to use materials

4. explore nature and their surrounding environments

5. draw, paint, or build simple items and tell what they represent

6. use markers, pencils, crayons, chalk, brushes, etc.

7. manipulate playdough, sillyputty, goop, clay, etc.

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Physical Development

Developmental Focus:  Small and Large Motor and Moving to Music

Ultimate Goal: 

Small and Large Motor:  The goal is for children to have instructions and practice in skills that require both small and large motor control.

Moving to Music:  The goal is for children to develop skills in basic training.

Objectives: 

Small and Large Motor Skills - Children will have opportunities to:

1. practice small motor skills through daily activities such as cutting, rolling, pegboards, puzzles, paint, playdough, clay
2. develop eye-hand coordination through activities such as pouring, spreading, lacing, stringing, squeezing, tearing, pulling, snapping, zipping, and grasping
3. develop an awareness of body parts, their location and function
4. engage in nonlocomotor movement (stationary):  twisting, bending, swinging one’s arms, rocking, stretching
5. engage in locomotor movement (nonstationary):  walking, running, jumping, hopping, galloping, skipping, turning
6. engage in movement while manipulating objects, such as:  throwing, kicking, catching, striking, swinging
7. engage in sustained activities such as walking, running, jogging, riding bikes, climbing, completing obstacle courses
8. practice patience and perseverance in learning new skills
9. experience and accept fairness in physical activity
10. focus on cooperation, persistence, and gentleness in physical games and activities

Moving to Music - Children will have opportunities to:

1. express creativity in movement
2. describe and act out movement directions such as:  forward, backward, in front of, behind, below, sideways
3. move with a variety of easy-to-manipulate objects such as: beanbags, scarves, shakers,
4. move in response to music, feeling, and expressing steady beat

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Social Development

Developmental Focus:  Social and Prosocial Behavior

Ultimate Goal: 

Help children get along in society, interact with another, and become more humane members of the human race.

Objectives: 

 Children will have opportunities to:

1.  create and experience collaborative play (share labor, follow rules)

2.  build relationships with children and adults (identify children and adults by name)

3.  develop sensitivity to the feelings, interests, and needs of others

4.  participate in group routines

5.  learn how to solve problems with other children independently

6.  learn the reasons for and help make classroom rules

7.  begin to develop the skills related to self-control

8.  work on projects with familiar adults (share labor, follow rules)

9.  learn how to cooperate and be helpful

10.  differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable classroom behavior

11.  learn to recognize the effects of their actions and words on others

12.  develop an awareness and respect for likenesses and differences among people

13.  develop an awareness of cultural similarities and differences

14. learn to encourage and be friendly toward others

15. treat people and materials considerately (respectful)

16. to build self and other esteem

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Emotional Development

Developmental Focus:  Self Identity/Developing Emotions

Ultimate Goal:   The goal is for children to feel loved and valued.

Objectives: 

Children will have opportunities to:

1. learn about themselves

2. value their own gender, culture, race, and that of others

3. experience relationships beyond their family

4. understand and express feelings in acceptable ways

5. show awareness of other people’s feelings

6. recognize the circumstances that influence personal emotions 

7. understand the concept of possession and ownership

8. learn how to act deliberately to affect their own emotions

9. identify distress in others

10. respond appropriately to the emotional needs of others

11. experience a predictable environment

12. display caretaking skills

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Development of Initiative

Developmental Focus:  Taking control of environment

Ultimate Goal:   The goal is for children to feel competent in their environment.

Objectives: 

Children will have opportunities to:

1. independently begin and pursue a task 

2. make choices and experience consequences of personal decisions 

3. design their play activities

4. complete a task they have begun

5. experience the pleasure of work 

6. evaluate themselves

7. engage in complex play

8. express choices

9. identify a problem

10. attempt to solve a problem 

11. engage and cooperate in a predictable daily routine

12. give detailed description of  intended actions (“I want to make a road out of blocks with  Sara and drive the truck on it.”)

13. carry out complex and varied sequence of activities
14. display courage and confidence through assertiveness

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Development of Self-Help Skills

Developmental Focus:  Taking Responsibility for Personal Care

Ultimate Goal:  The goal is for children to take responsibility for their personal care in their practice and skills.

Objectives: 

Children will have opportunities to: 

1. engage in practicing buttoning, zipping, snapping, and tying

2. learn about self-care such as:  nutrition, rest, toilet training, teeth brushing, and    washing hands

3. practice dressing in proper attire to go outside – this includes putting on shoes, coats, mittens, hats, and snowpants

4. engage in their ability to feed themselves while using fine motor and coordination skills in the process

5. learn about personal safety through guidance and safety

6. engage in care and responsibility of others

7. practice coping skills

8. shows perseverance in accomplishing goals

9. practices self-reliance and/or self-direction

10. practices self-control and/or self motivation

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Human Growth & Development Laboratory
Located on the Campus of Central Michigan University
163 Wightman Hall
Mt. Pleasant, MI. 48859
Phone: 989/774-3760 Fax: 989/774-1060
Tracy Searcy
Copyright © 2002 Human Growth and Development Laboratory
All rights reserved. Revised: August 19, 2004 .