1. Session 2

1.5. Inquiry 3

Session 2: Intellectual Development

Session 2: Intellectual Development

 

Inquiry 3: Developmental Milestones from Birth to Five Years

 

The table “Intellectual Development Milestones” illustrates how children progress through the stages of intellectual development. It is important to remember that each child is unique and develops at his or her own rate.

 

The Role of the Child Care Provider in Supporting Children’s Intellectual Development

 

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Child care providers can support children’s intellectual development in many ways. Programs that best meet children’s emotional and physical needs better prepare children to learn from the world around them. Child care providers need to make sure children have enough time, space, materials, and support to actively explore and develop intellectually. Practising the following guidelines will help:

  • Provide a stimulating environment that is safe both physically and emotionally. This environment includes a variety of materials that are appropriate to the children’s developmental levels.
  • Encourage children to satisfy their natural curiosity. When it is safe, encourage children to do the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– look

– touch

– taste

– smell

– listen

– experiment

– create

– ask and answer questions

– solve problems

– sort

– classify (group similar objects together)

– find similarities and differences

  • Provide long unstructured play times so children can become actively involved in learning through play.
  • Ask open-ended questions to encourage children to explore and to solve problems.
  • Observe verbal and non-verbal clues given by the child as the child plays (e.g., “What is this?” or “Is this smiling or yawning?”). These clues help child care providers to respond appropriately and to plan additional experiences.
  • Take advantage of unplanned moments to encourage children to explore and learn (e.g., by taking children to the window to watch the snow fall).
  • Model and, therefore, create excitement for discovering and learning.
  • Accept each child’s learning style and abilities as unique.
  • Recognize that intellectual learning is related to learning in all areas.
  • Ensure the children’s environment is representative of all the children (e.g., abilities, ethnicity, family structure, and so on).