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2. Understanding Behaviour

2c. Behaviour in the Early Years

Children’s development between birth and age five does not follow a simple, linear path. While there are broad developmental milestones from birth into the early years, no two children move through them in the same way. As outlined in the Department for Education’s Development Matters guidance, this period is best understood through ‘broad ages and stages’ rather than fixed timelines, recognising that young children’s learning is rarely ‘neat and orderly.’ Growth over these years is often a series of shifts and changes, with periods of rapid progress, pauses in development and occasional regressions.

When looking at behaviour, it helps to consider where a child is within these developmental phases. Skills such as social interaction, managing emotions, language and physical coordination do not all develop at the same pace. A child might be advanced in one area but still catching up in another, for example, a four-year-old might have the physical abilities you would expect for their age but the language skills of a younger child, which could affect how they show frustration.

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