Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): Child Development from 0-5 Years
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a framework used to support children's learning and development from birth to 5 years old. This stage is crucial in laying the foundation for future academic success, social skills, and emotional well-being. In this article, we will explore the different areas of child development during the EYFS stage and what you can expect from your child's growth and milestones.
Prime Areas of Development
The EYFS framework consists of three prime areas of development, which are essential for igniting children's curiosity, enthusiasm, and love for learning. These areas are:
Communication and Language
- ** Birth to 11 months:** Responds to sounds, begins to babble, and starts to understand simple words and phrases.
- 12-23 months: Says a few words, starts to point to objects, and begins to understand simple stories.
- 24-36 months: Uses around 50 words, starts to combine two words, and begins to understand simple instructions.
- 37-48 months: Uses around 100 words, starts to use simple sentences, and begins to understand more complex stories.
- 49-60 months: Uses complex sentences, describes pictures, and starts to understand written language.
Physical Development
- Birth to 11 months: Lifts head while on stomach, rolls over, and starts to reach for toys.
- 12-23 months: Sits up, crawls, and starts to stand with support.
- 24-36 months: Walks independently, points to objects, and starts to use raking and grasping motions.
- 37-48 months: Runs, climbs, and starts to use both hands to manipulate objects.
- 49-60 months: Hops, skips, and starts to use scissors to cut paper.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Birth to 11 months: Responds to familiar faces, smiles, and starts to show interest in toys.
- 12-23 months: Imitates others, starts to show affection, and begins to understand simple routines.
- 24-36 months: Plays alongside others, starts to show independence, and begins to understand simple boundaries.
- 37-48 months: Takes turns, starts to show empathy, and begins to understand more complex routines.
- 49-60 months: Cooperates with others, starts to show self-confidence, and begins to understand more complex social rules.
Specific Areas of Development
In addition to the prime areas, the EYFS framework recognizes four specific areas of development, which are:
Literacy
- Birth to 11 months: Responds to books, starts to understand that books have a front and back, and begins to understand simple stories.
- 12-23 months: Points to pictures, starts to identify familiar objects, and begins to understand simple print concepts.
- 24-36 months: Recognizes own name, starts to identify letters, and begins to understand more complex stories.
- 37-48 months: Starts to understand phonics, begins to recognize common signs and labels, and starts to read simple texts.
- 49-60 months: Starts to read more complex texts, begins to understand more complex print concepts, and starts to write simple sentences.
Mathematics
- Birth to 11 months: Responds to numbers, starts to understand that objects can be grouped and counted.
- 12-23 months: Counts up to two objects, starts to understand simple shapes, and begins to understand simple patterns.
- 24-36 months: Counts up to five objects, starts to understand more complex shapes, and begins to understand more complex patterns.
- 37-48 months: Starts to understand number names, begins to understand more complex counting concepts, and starts to create simple shapes.
- 49-60 months: Starts to understand more complex math concepts, begins to recognize and create more complex patterns, and starts to solve simple problems.
Understanding the World
- Birth to 11 months: Responds to familiar objects, starts to understand that objects can be used for different purposes.
- 12-23 months: Imitates actions, starts to understand simple cause-and-effect relationships, and begins to understand that objects can be grouped by categories.
- 24-36 months: Starts to understand simple science concepts, begins to understand that objects can be used to solve problems, and starts to show an interest in the natural world.
- 37-48 months: Starts to understand more complex science concepts, begins to understand that objects can be used to create art, and starts to show an interest in the community.
- 49-60 months: Starts to understand more complex concepts, begins to understand that objects can be used to create music, and starts to show an interest in the cultural heritage.
