Top 5 skills children develop in the early years

There are a number of core skills that they typically acquire during this time. The key 5 categories of skills are as below:

1. Language skills: During their early years, children develop their ability to communicate and understand language. They begin to learn new words, use simple sentences, and follow basic instructions.
2. Motor skills: Young children also develop their fine and gross motor skills, which involve movements and actions of the hands, fingers, arms, legs, and feet. They learn to grasp and manipulate objects, crawl, walk, run, jump, and climb.
3. Cognitive skills: Cognitive skills include memory, attention, problem-solving, and creativity. Young children begin to understand the world around them, recognize patterns and relationships, and develop the ability to remember people, places, and things.
4. Social skills: Social skills involve interacting with others and understanding social cues. Young children learn to play and share with peers, follow rules and routines, and recognize and respond to emotions.
5. Self-help skills: As they grow, young children also learn to take care of themselves, including dressing themselves, feeding themselves with utensils, and using the bathroom independently.

As parents and teachers, we should keep a watch on how the children around us are progressing in these skills and the deficiency needs to be identified early and addressed.

It can be difficult to determine if a child is lacking in certain core skills, as each child develops at their own pace and in their own way. However, there are some signs and red flags that may indicate that a child is struggling with their development in certain areas. Here are a few examples:

1. Language skills: If a child is not using any words by the age of 2, is not able to follow simple instructions, or is not showing interest in communicating with others, it may be a sign that they are struggling with language development.
2. Motor skills: If a child is not meeting developmental milestones, such as crawling or walking, by the expected age range, or is not able to hold and manipulate objects or use utensils to feed themselves, it may be a sign that they are struggling with their motor skills.
3. Cognitive skills: If a child is not able to remember people or events from the recent past, is not able to solve simple problems, or is not showing an interest in exploring their environment or playing with toys, it may be a sign that they are struggling with their cognitive skills.
4. Social skills: If a child is not showing an interest in interacting with others, is not responding to social cues, or is not able to share or take turns with peers, it may be a sign that they are struggling with their social skills.
5. Self-help skills: If a child is not able to dress themselves, feed themselves with utensils, or use the bathroom independently by a certain age, it may be a sign that they are struggling with their self-help skills.

If parents or caregivers have concerns about a child's development in any of these areas, it's important to speak with a healthcare provider or early childhood specialist for further evaluation and support. Early intervention and support can make a significant difference in a child's development and long-term outcomes.