1. Infancy (Birth to 12 months): This period focuses heavily on physical development, such as gaining motor skills (rolling over, crawling, sitting, walking), sensory development (exploring the world through touch, sight, sound, taste, and smell), and basic communication (crying, cooing, babbling). Attachment to caregivers is crucial during this stage. Cognitive development involves early sensory exploration and the beginnings of object permanence (understanding that objects continue to exist even when out of sight).
2. Toddlerhood (12 to 36 months): Toddlers experience rapid physical growth and development of gross and fine motor skills (running, jumping, stacking blocks, using utensils). Language development explodes, with vocabulary expanding significantly. Cognitive development includes symbolic thinking (using words and gestures to represent objects and ideas), problem-solving (simple puzzles), and developing independence. Emotional regulation and social skills are also beginning to emerge.
3. Preschool Years (3 to 5 years): Preschoolers continue to refine motor skills, becoming more coordinated and independent in their movements. Language skills advance greatly, including grammar and storytelling. Cognitive development focuses on pre-operational thought – understanding concepts like categorization, numbers, and colors, but still exhibiting egocentric thinking (difficulty seeing things from another person's perspective). Social and emotional development includes increased interaction with peers, developing empathy, and understanding of rules and social expectations. Imaginative play becomes prevalent.
It's important to note that these are broad generalizations, and children develop at different paces. There's significant individual variation in the timing and sequence of developmental milestones. Furthermore, these stages are interconnected and influence each other. For example, strong language development in toddlerhood will greatly impact cognitive development in the preschool years.