Chapter 1: Introduction
Mary Sheridan’s “From Birth to Five Years” gives an overview of a child’s development in the early years of life. The book offers insight on the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social aspects of development, as well as the role of the environment in the development of the child. It looks into the different stages of development, and how these stages intersect with the different stages of the family life, and how the environment can impact the development of the child’s personality and movements.
For example, in the first stage of the book, the author describes how the family life affects the development of the child in the early years. This is illustrated when the parents are involved in the daily routine of the baby, such as changing diapers, and then engaging in play with the baby through activities like reading and talking. Furthermore, the book also discusses the role of the environment in the development of the child as it emphasizes the importance of creating a nurturing environment where the child can experience safety and security.
Chapter 2: Development of Movement
This chapter of Mary Sheridan’s “From Birth to Five Years” explores the role of movement in the development of the child. It looks into the different stages of movement and also focuses on gross and fine motor skills. The book looks at different exercises and techniques that can help to promote the development of movement in the child’s early years.
For example, the book discusses different activities that can be done to help build the child’s gross motor skills. It suggests activities such as crawling, rolling, walking, running, and climbing, which can help to promote the child’s development of motor skills. Furthermore, it also looks into different activities that can help to promote fine motor skills, such as drawing and manipulative activities.
Chapter 3: Development of Thinking
In this chapter, Mary Sheridan’s “From Birth to Five Years” explores the development of thinking in the child’s early years. It looks into different milestones that a child can reach in terms of their thinking skills, such as recognizing and naming objects, developing language skills, showing self-understanding, and being able to problem solve.
For example, the book discusses how the child’s environment can affect their language skills. It highlights how reading to the child, talking to them, and providing them with a variety of toys and activities can help to foster the development of language and thinking skills in the child. Furthermore, the book looks into how a child can gain self-understanding and learn to problem solve, which can provide them with the foundation to build more advanced thinking skills.
Chapter 4: Development of Feelings
The fourth chapter of Mary Sheridan’s “From Birth to Five Years” looks at the development of feelings and emotions in the child’s early years. It examines different ways that the parents and caregivers can help to foster the development of emotions such as identifying feelings, expressing emotions, and responding to emotions. Furthermore, it looks into the different stages of emotional development and how to handle each stage appropriately.
For example, the book talks about how to discuss different emotions with the child and how to talk to them about the different emotions they may experience. It suggests that the conversations should be honest, open, and non-judgemental. It also suggests activities for children to engage in, such as art, play, music, and storytelling, which can help to express emotions in a healthy way.
Chapter 5: Social Development
The fifth chapter of Mary Sheridan’s “From Birth to Five Years” looks at social development in the child’s early years. It examines the different skills that are required for social development and gives tips on how to best encourage and foster these skills. It also looks into the different social contexts that the child can be involved in, such as playdates, family gatherings, and other age-appropriate activities.
For example, the book looks at the importance of encouraging the child to interact with other children of the same age. It recommends activities such as playing together, talking to each other, and engaging in cooperative activities, which can help the child to learn how to get along with others and form positive relationships. Furthermore, it suggests activities such as painting, singing, and dancing to help the child express themselves and share their feelings with others.
Overall, Mary Sheridan’s “From Birth to Five Years” offers an in-depth look at the stages of development in the early years of life. It offers a range of different insight and tips on how to foster the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development of the child as well as the role of the environment in the development of the child. As a result, this book provides a comprehensive view of the development of a child and is a great resource for parents and educators.
