ASFSC Early Head Start

🍩💙 Join Us for Donuts with Dads! 💙🍩

We are excited to celebrate the amazing dads, grandfathers, father figures, and mentors who make a difference in the lives of our children every day! Join us for a special morning of donuts, smiles, and quality time as we honor the men who lead, love, and inspire.

📅 June 17
⏰ 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM

We look forward to celebrating with our EHS families! ❤️

Understanding Early Development: Newborn, Infant, and Toddler Stages

Child development happens in clear but overlapping stages, each with its own focus and milestones.

The newborn stage (birth to 3 months) is centered on adjustment, bonding, and basic survival needs.

Babies at this stage are learning to regulate through sleep, feeding, and connection with caregivers.

They rely heavily on reflexes and respond best to touch, soothing voices, and consistent care.

The infant stage (3–12 months) brings rapid growth in movement, communication, and curiosity about the world.

Babies begin rolling, sitting, crawling, and exploring objects with more intentional play.

They also develop early communication skills like babbling, gestures, and recognizing familiar voices and faces.

The toddler stage (1–3 years) focuses on independence, emotional expression, and early language growth.

Toddlers begin walking, climbing, and using words or short phrases to communicate needs and feelings.

Big emotions are common during this stage as self-control skills are still developing.

Across all stages, connection, consistency, and responsive caregiving are the foundation for healthy development.

Understanding these differences helps caregivers support children in ways that match their stage of growth.



Image credit: Pregnancy Guide