What are the stages of child development for preschool teachers?
For preschool teachers, development is often described in stages: infancy (0–1), toddlerhood (1–3), early childhood (3–6) and middle childhood (6–12). Montessori's planes group 0–6 together. Piaget called 2–7 the preoperational stage, when children think symbolically but not yet logically. Teachers watch milestones in movement, language, thinking and social-emotional skills.
What this means in practice
Understanding stages helps you set realistic expectations and choose suitable activities.
Early childhood (3–6) milestones (approximate)
- Movement: runs, hops, uses scissors, draws shapes
- Language: speaks in sentences, tells stories
- Thinking: sorts, counts, asks why
- Social-emotional: plays cooperatively, manages turns
Theories
Montessori (planes), Piaget (cognitive stages), Vygotsky (social learning), Erikson (psychosocial stages).
Practical next steps
- Learn the main theories.
- Know typical milestones.
- Observe individual children.
- Refer concerns.
What to keep in mind
Milestones vary; persistent delays should be checked by professionals.
Common follow-up questions
Is Montessori's plane the same as Piaget's stage?
They overlap but differ.
Who checks delays?
Paediatricians and specialists.
Sources
Examples are educational illustrations with made-up names. How these answers are prepared.