Infancy and Toddlerhood Development

The toddler stage occurs from birth to age two. Piaget emphasizes how children learn through
their senses in order to make sense of the world around them. During this stage of development,
children learn skills and tasks as they play. Through play, children acquire knowledge and
understanding through interacting with others. Through play, children develop self-concept and
self-regulation skills. Through the infancy and toddler stage, children develop physical, social,
language and cognitive development.
Physical development milestone

Walks with feet wide apart, head forward, arms out

Finds it difficult to turn corners
Goes up and down stairs by holding onto something
During this stage of development, children are learning a sense of independency, I can do it.
According to Berk (2013), toddlers show clear awareness of care givers wishes and
expectations and can obey simple requests and commands (p. 514). During this stage of
development, children enjoy running, jumping, climbing and sliding. They also enjoy rolling
and throwing a ball and also they enjoy walking along push toys. At this stage of development,
children are well familiar with their gross motor skills. During outdoor time, it is important to
pay close attention to children to prevent serious injuries.

Language Milestone in Toddlers

Repeats adults words

Enjoys vocalizing to self

 Understands simple phrases

During this stage of development, children will certainly mimic what they see and hear. At this
stage of development language plays an important role in childrens development. According to
Berk, Toddlers use of preverbal gestures predicts faster early vocabulary growth in the second
and third years and the earlier toddlers form word-gestures combinations (p. 371). Children
use two word phrases, repeat words and phrases and ask whats that? During infant and toddler
stage, it is important for children to advance in physical, language and cognitive development.

Cognitive Developmental Milestone

During this stage of development children enjoy having books read to them and they like to point
to objects in the book. Children enjoy imitating simple tasks, build with three to four small
blocks and match similar objects that will increase their cognitive development. During this
stage of development children have a short attention span but can follow simple directions.
Through play children can actively construct knowledge about their world; they develop
understand and refine their social skills; they continue to develop their emotional affective
selves-self concepts, self-regulatory, and self-efficacy (Turner, 1999). During infant and
toddler stages, it is important for children to excel in physical, cognitive and language
development.

Social Emotional Development

Social emotional development plays an important role in a childs development. During this
stage of development, children express different emotions. Therefore, learning how to control

those emotions can affect social emotional development. Social emotional development can
affect the way children interact with each other and it can affect their cognitive development.

Moral Development

During this stage of development children are learning the difference between right and wrong,
morals and values. Toddlers show clear awareness of caregivers wishes and expectations and
can obey simple requests and commands (Berk, 2013, p. 514). Moral development can affect
cognitive, social, and physical development. According to Berk (2013), moral self-regulation is
the ability to monitor ones own conduct, constantly adjusting it as circumstances present
opportunities to violate inner standards (p. 514). Children should display the following
according to Berk (2013).
Shows empathy towards others
Use language to assist with emotional self-regulation
Models moral behaviors

Atypical Development

At this stage of development children are just bursting with energy; nevertheless, there are signs
to indicate if children are not reaching their full potential. One sign of atypical development is
not being able to follow simple instructions and cannot use two-word sentences by age two.
Social Factor

Children in this stage of development are beginning to gain a sense of self-awareness of who
they are. Children mimic what they see; therefore, it is important for adults to model appropriate
behaviors in front of them. According to Berk (2013), Researchers do not know exactly how
toddlers acquire the various aspects of explicit awareness, but sensitive care giving seems to play
a role (p. 449).

Culture Factor

Culture values vary from one culture to the other. Every culture has their own set of beliefs,
customs and values. Therefore, it is important to respect and value cultural differences by not
being judgmental, but respecting others. According to Berk (2013), German parents value
independence and encourage their infants to be non-clingy, so the babys behavior may be
intended out-come of cultural beliefs and practices (p. 432).

Family Influence

Families can influence childrens learning and development by reading to children as much as
possible and expose children to language, vocabulary words and model appropriate grammar
usage. Parents can also provide activities such as puzzles, blocks, crayons and paint to promote
cognitive development. Parents should spend as much outdoor time with children to promote
physical and social development.

Play-based Strategies

Two play-based strategies that families can use to influence their childrens learning and
development would consist of planting a garden together. Children love to play in dirt and by
planting vegetables, they will have the opportunity to play in dirt and to do something fun.
Playing in shaving cream and play dough are also fun activities. Children could use cookie
cutters and different shapes to cut out the play dough. Parents could spray the shaving cream on
the table or mix it with baking soda to make snow; either way, they will still have fun. When
children mix the baking soda with the shaving cream, they will learn about science because the
mixture will be cool and it lasts a long time.

References
Berk, L. E. (2013). Child development. (9th ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Turner, M. (1999). Child-Centered learning and music program. Music Educators Journal,
86(1), 30-33, 51.