In early childhood, from birth to age five, children are experiencing growth at a pace faster than they will experience at any other point in their lives. Their bodies typically double in weight by the age of five months,[1] and the first three years of life are considered the most important for brain development. Not only that, but young children from ages 0-5 are also learning to self-regulate their emotions and to express themselves in new ways (besides crying—much to many new parents’ relief!).

Researchers describe this growth in four different domains: physical development, the growth of young children’s bodies; social development, their increasing understanding of how to relate to others, through play, language, and other relationships; emotional development, including how to understand and communicate their feelings; and cognitive development, their acquisition of skills and knowledge of the world. These four domains are equally important and are inextricably interrelated.

As parents, your job is to help your child to grow healthy and strong in each of these four areas. Try to think of games and activities to play with your child each day that addresses all of the areas. Or, if it is easier, you can try to focus on one area at a time. However, you will soon learn that these domains are not as distinct as they may first seem, and that games that help your child with his or her physical development, like outdoor play in a park, will also lead to development in the other areas.