By Maggie Dietrich, Physical Therapist at Penfield Children’s Center
Being a parent is one of the most challenging and exhausting things you’ll ever do, but it is also one of the most rewarding. The decisions you make today have a lasting impact on their lives and help shape how future generations think and act. Talk about powerful!
From the moment you first hold your little one, you are teaching and guiding them into their future selves. One of the most powerful ways to support your child is by understanding and nurturing their early development.
The first five years of life matter more than many parents and caregivers realize. Whether your child is meeting every milestone or you’ve noticed they need a little extra support, investing time and energy into early childhood development gives your little one the best possible start.
What Is Early Childhood Development?
Early childhood development (ECD) is the wonderfully complex and vulnerable period of time from before a baby is born to about 5 years of age. This sensitive period is when your little one learns to move, communicate, express themselves, solve problems, and connect with others.
It’s a critical window where a child’s brain is developing faster than at any other time in life. In fact, research shows that 80% percent of brain development occurs by age 3 and 90% occurs by 5.
Why Supporting Your Child’s Development Is Important
During the first few years of life, your child is learning so much about themselves and the world. Every child can benefit from intentional support during these early years—even those who seem to be exceeding every developmental milestone.
Let’s explore some of the benefits of early childhood development support.
Early Skills Build Later Skills
Development happens like building a tower. Each new skill builds and rests on what came before. When children are supported during early development, they’re more prepared for each stage that follows.
Cognitive
Cognitive development in early childhood refers to your little one’s thinking, learning, and problem-solving abilities, and how they’re progressing in those areas. During the first five years, a child’s brain forms more than 1 million new neural connections every second. Activities that stimulate the brain support these connections and help build those critical cognitive skills.
While games like peek-a-boo to stacking blocks may seem simple, they’re helping your baby develop core critical thinking, problem-solving, and memory skills. Those cognitive skills are foundational to their success in school, work, and daily life.
Social & Emotional
Early childhood caregivers are modeling how to interact, manage emotions, and build healthy connections with others. These early social emotional skills set the stage for future relationships and experiences throughout their life, whether it’s a friend, colleague, or romantic partner.
Developing empathy, self-regulation, and a strong sense of self early provides the foundation for healthy relationships and mental health in the future.
Speech & Language Development
Early communication skills are critical for learning, problem-solving, and connecting with others. Talking, listening, and reading with your baby strengthens language pathways in the brain.
Those language skills will serve your child as they enter each stage of life, helping them articulate their needs, advocate for themselves and others, and engage with the world around them.
Foster a Lifelong Love of Learning
Children who experience rich early learning environments from a young age are better prepared for kindergarten and the school years. They’re more likely to succeed academically and socially, and they develop a love for learning.
Creating a stimulating and engaging environment can spark your little one’s curiosity and cultivate a lifelong love of learning.
This passion for learning and growth has a huge impact later in life. Children who participate in high-quality early childhood education are more likely to graduate from high school, pursue higher education, and earn higher wages.
Spot Delays Early
Sometimes kids need a little extra help—and that’s totally okay! If your child isn’t hitting certain milestones, early support can make a big difference.
The earlier help begins, the better the outcomes.
Get Professional Support For Your Little One
You want to give your child every opportunity to thrive in these early years of life. And you don’t have to do it alone! Early childhood education services and early intervention services can help your child reach their full potential and build core skills.
| Early Childhood Education | Early Intervention | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | All children, ages 0–5 | Children (0–3) with developmental concerns or delays |
| Focus | School readiness, social and academic skills | Supporting developmental delays and building life skills |
| Setting | Classrooms, preschools, early learning centers | In-home, medical facility, or community settings |
| How to enroll | Apply through programs like preschool or Head Start | Make a referral for an evaluation (free in most states) |
| Cost | May vary by program or income | Often free or low-cost, through state/federal programs |
Early Childhood Education (ECE)
Early childhood education includes high-quality learning programs designed to support school readiness and social-emotional growth. Preschool, daycare centers, and other programs geared for children ages 0-5 fall into this category.
In these spaces, teachers and staff help little ones build routines, develop friendships, and explore their world in a safe, nurturing space. Generally open to children of all backgrounds and ability levels, most learning happens in a group setting with less of a one-on-one focus.
Curriculum is typically built around foundational skills kids need for kindergarten and beyond, such as basic math and reading concepts, and learning how to share, play, and engage with their peers.
The cost of these early childhood education programs varies based on your location and income level. Some programs, like Head Start, offer income-based pricing or financial assistance through grants and scholarships. Libraries, churches, and other organizations may also offer free or low-cost programs at various times throughout the year.
Early Intervention Services
Early intervention is specialized support for infants and toddlers (birth to age 3) who have or are at risk for developmental delays or disabilities. Services may include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and other developmental support.
Unlike early childhood education, early intervention is not a classroom program. It’s personalized and family-centered support designed to support both you and your child.
Rather than teachers, you’ll work with various therapists trained to help your child build core skills through movement, play, and other techniques. Generally, you’ll start with an evaluation and collaborate to build routines and strategies aligned with your child’s needs.
Currently, every state has free early intervention programs for children under age 3. To get started:
- Talk to your pediatrician about any concerns and request an evaluation or referral.
Contact your local early intervention agency on your own. You don’t need a diagnosis to ask for help.
Support Early Childhood Development at Home
In addition to professional services, you can also support your child’s development at home through ongoing interaction, play, and support.
Interact with Your Child
One of the best ways to support early childhood development is talking, singing, and reading together. While it sounds simple, these interactions support all areas of early childhood development—no fancy toys or gadgets required.
Hearing words often helps babies build vocabulary and language skills long before they say their first words. Plus, your baby loves the sound of your voice even before they’re born!
Don’t overthink it. It can be as simple as narrating what you’re doing while cooking, singing silly songs together, or reading aloud before bedtime. Even if your baby doesn’t understand the words yet, it’s about bonding and learning.
Create a Safe and Loving Environment
Children learn best when they feel safe, secure, and loved. Those strong emotional bonds build confidence and help your little one feel secure enough to explore and learn.
You can foster a secure and loving home by focusing on routines and gentle guidance.
- Establish a predictable daily routine for meals, naps, and bedtime.
- Offer consistent comfort and reassurance when your child is upset.
- Praise their effort (“You worked so hard on that puzzle!”), not just outcomes.
Encourage Play & Creativity
Play is how children discover the world and develop essential skills like problem-solving, creativity, and cooperation. Let them explore, get messy, and try new things.
We always encourage parents to limit screen time and opt for hands-on activities and toys as much as possible. This sparks their imagination, encourages movement, and engages all their senses.
Need some inspiration? Here are a few fun play-based activities you and your little one can do together:
- Plant a butterfly garden
- Make DIY maracas
- Go on a picnic
- Make homemade play-dough
- Do a holiday-themed craft
If your child does have screen time (we get it), encourage development by having them share what they learned, sing songs from the show, and dance or move around with the characters.
Track & Celebrate Milestones
Every child grows at their own pace—but keeping an eye on developmental milestones can help you notice strengths and spot areas where your child might need extra support.
While milestones are often categorized separately, there is deep connection between them. Children can vary depending on genetics and early experiences, but we generally see core skills building on each other as a child ages. For example, a child generally needs to hold their heads up and use their hands to pick things up before they can eat table foods.
You can use a free milestone checklist or app to track progress in talking, moving, playing, and learning. Keeping this record will help you make connections and have ongoing conversations with your pediatrician and early childhood specialists as needed.
Be sure to celebrate each success, big or small. If you’re unsure about anything, it’s always okay to ask for help. Extra help early on can make a big difference.
You’re Doing a Great Job
Whether your child is meeting every milestone or needs a little extra support, your love, attention, and advocacy are powerful. Every hug, story, and game helps shape the incredible person your child is becoming.
The team at Penfield Children’s Center is here to support you and your child every step of the way.
Maggie Dietrich is a board-certified pediatric physical therapist at Penfield Children’s Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She’s also an endorsed Infant Family Specialist through the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health. She has been working with children and families for 25 years and counting!
