Domains of Childhood Development

Physical

This domain refers to the development of physical skills, known as 'motor skills.' Motor skills give children the ability to make purposeful movements and learn the physical characteristics of self and the environment. It is through physical development that children develop gross movements, fine controls, hand-eye coordination, balance, and kin aesthetic sense. This developmental domain is strongly affected by the child' individual opportunities to practice, observe, and be instructed on fine and gross motor skills. 

Social/Emotional

This domain refers to the development of a child's ability to play with others, understand the expression of emotions, form attachments, and handle peer pressure. It gives children the capacity to understand the feelings of themselves and others. A child's temperament plays a major role in their ability to develop socially and emotionally. Social interaction demands that children are able to cooperate, follow directions, have moral reasoning, and self-control. Social and emotional development gives children the capacity to understand the feelings of others and how to control and understand their own.

Cognitive

This domain refers to the child's creative and intellectual development. Intellectual development refers to the capability to process thoughts, hold adequate attention, remember events, understand the environment, and the capability to plan, predict, evaluate, and regulate any given task or situation experienced. Creative development refers to the outcome of intelligence acquired as well as events experienced and imagination applied constructively in academic and everyday knowledge. 

Language/Communication

This domain refers to several essential components of development. Language development and effective communication capabilities are highly dependent on other developmental domains. Communication capability includes a wide range of social behaviors and skills. Effective verbal ability is dependent on phonology, semantics, syntax, thought processing, and pragmatic abilities.

Understanding these developmental domains and how to educate our students to aid in their personal development within these domains is extremely important.