Understanding developmental milestones

Infancy to toddlerhood

We will primarily focus on infancy to toddlerhood. We hope that teachers will find the information useful and will share this site with others. This site aims to discuss the effect that prenatal development and care and early childhood experiences can have on adolescent social and emotional development.

Infancy: A key social/emotional milestone during infancy is recognizing their name. Two SEL strategies for teachers of infants include creating a nurturing and responsive environment and engaging in frequent, loving interactions with the child. For families at home, focus on building a secure attachment through consistent care and affection.

Toddlerhood: Communication is a significant milestone in toddlerhood. Teachers can support communication skills by encouraging verbal and non-verbal expression. At home, engage in frequent conversations with your toddler.

Understanding self-regulation

Self-regulation involves managing one's emotions, behaviors, and impulses in various situations. For example, a child demonstrating self-regulation might take deep breaths when frustrated instead of lashing out. Teachers can model self-regulation by calmly addressing classroom challenges and verbalizing their own coping strategies. Encouraging self-reflection and providing opportunities for students to practice problem-solving are also effective methods.