
Developmental Skills
Understanding and Supporting Every Stage of Growth
On this page, professionals can find trusted tools and resources to better understand developmental skills across different ages and how to support families in nurturing their child's physical, social-emotional, language, and cognitive growth.
What Are Developmental Skills?
Developmental skills refer to the abilities children gain as they grow, such as sitting up, playing, talking, walking, and interacting with others. These skills are grouped into areas known as developmental domains:
Physical Development (Gross and Fine Motor Skills)
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What it is:
Physical development involves the growth of a child's body and the development of their ability to move and interact with the world. This includes:
-Gross motor skills: Large muscle movements like sitting, crawling, walking, jumping, or climbing.
-Fine motor skills: Small muscle movements like grasping toys, using utensils, turning pages, or drawing.
Why it matters:
Physical skills are foundational for independence and play. Mastering movement helps children explore their environment and build confidence.
How to support it:
Encourage tummy time, outdoor play, and activities like stacking blocks, coloring, or scooping with spoons. Monitor motor milestones and observe posture, balance, and coordination.
Language and Communication
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What it is:
This domain includes both understanding language (receptive) and using it to express needs, thoughts, and feelings (expressive). It also includes nonverbal communication such as gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact.
Why it matters:
Strong communication skills are essential for learning, social relationships, and self-expression. Early language development is a strong predictor of later academic success.
How to support it:
Talk, sing, read, and respond to children's cues and sounds. Name objects, ask questions, and give children time to respond. Encourage back-and-forth interactions during routines and play.
Cognitive Development (Thinking, Learning, Problem-Solving)
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What it is:
Cognitive development refers to how children think, explore, and figure things out. It includes memory, attention, cause-and-effect, and early math and reasoning skills.
Why it matters:
Cognitive skills help children make sense of the world. They support learning in school and are linked to executive function and decision-making.
How to support it:
Provide open-ended toys, explore nature, and offer opportunities to sort, count, match, and build. Ask "why" and "what do you think will happen?" questions. Encourage curiosity and experimentation.
Social and Emotional Development
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What it is:
The domain involves how children understand their own emotions, build relationships, and navigate social situations. It includes empathy, cooperation, self-regulation, and forming secure attachments.
Why it matters:
Children with strong social-emotional skills are better equipped to manage emotions, resolve conflicts, and succeed in group settings like school and child care.
How to support it:
Build warm, responsive relationships. Label emotions, model empathy, and offer consistent routines. Play games that promote turn-taking and cooperation. Validate feelings and help children name and manage them.

Downloadable Tools and Guides
On this page, professionals can find trusted tools and resources to better understand developmental skills across different ages and how to support families in nurturing their child's physical, social-emotional, language, and cognitive growth.
Understanding and Responding to Children Who Bite
Learn more
Concerned about Development?
How to Get Help for Your Child
Toddler Attention Spans
See Chart
Growing Independence
Tips for Parents of Toddlers and Twos
Separation Anxiety in Young Children
Learn more
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Encouraging Healthy Sleep Habits
Why Play Matters
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Establishing Bedtime Routines For Children
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Why Do Children Bite?
Learn more
Mealtimes With Toddlers
Family Handout
Developmental Stages in Infant and Toddler Feeding
Learn more
Milestone Moments Booklet
Developmental milestones from birth to age 5.
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