ECD 203: Growth and Development II
Appropriate Plans and Experiences
Denise L. Hemingway 12:30 pm
Age Group:
Four Year Olds
Developmental Domain: Cognitive
Developmental Characteristics and Needs:
Understands the concept of counting and may know a few numbers.
Understands the concepts of same and different.
Tries to solve problems from a single point of view.
Lines things up from little to big.
Wants to know how things work and the causes of what happens.
Developmental Milestones:
Names some colors correctly.
Engages in fantasy play in centers.
Recalls parts of a familiar story.
Begins to have a clearer sense of time.
Follows three-part commands when given.
Developmental Influences:
Exposure to real world experiences to sense infinite possibilities.
Lack of play experiences to reinforce what children have learned through senses.
Interaction from adults to encourage thinking skills.
Inadequate materials to help children understand cause and effect.
Premature brain development that causes a child to not comprehend as well as others.
Characteristics of Learning Environment:
Dramatic play area for fantasy play.
A schedule with times and pictures to help children understand transitions and know
when to transition.
Variety of manipulative toys (puzzles, linking logs, Legos, kinex toys)
Sand and water table with objects that can sink or float.
Adult
Pictures, signs, and labels so that children can use symbols and learn what they mean.
Roles:
Give children real life experiences through play activities.
Do cooking projects for children to learn how to do things in a certain order.
Provide children with items that they can sort.
Engage in fantasy play with them and expand their imagination.
Read stories and ask open ended questions to encourage them to think of what will
happen next.
Appropriate Experience
Experience Name: Red Light, Green LightStop!
Developmental Milestone: Follows three part commands.
Materials needed: None
Description: Cognitive Activity
Behavioral Objective:
The child will be able to identify colors.
1. Teacher will have children line up side by side.
2. Teacher will cover her eyes.
3. Teacher will turn around in circles and chant;
red light, green light
4. Teachers will then stop and point.
5. Teacher will yell stop.
6. Children will immediately stop.
7. Teacher will repeat.
Explanation of healthy, supportive, respectful, challenging dimensions of above
experience:
Healthy: This activity is healthy in getting the children physical active and involved in an
outdoor game.
Supportive: This activity is supportive in color recognition and time.
Respectful: This experience is respectful by allowing the children to engage and interact
with the teacher. Allows children to play together.
Challenging: This activity can be more challenging when the teacher allows each child to be
the traffic light and repeat the words.
Professional References:
Miller, K (2009) Ages and Stages. TelShare Publishing Co.
Cognitive Developmental Milestones (2010):
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Cognitive_End_3_4_5/
Characteristics of Growth and Development (2007):
http://www.austincc.edu/adnlev3/ol_g&dcharacteristics_g&d.htm
