PRAXIS 5692 · COURSE
Praxis 5692 Special Education: Early Childhood/Early Intervention course
11 guided lessons across 5 sections. Read the first chapter free — no account needed.
FREE CHAPTER
Typical and Atypical Development Across Domains
Everything in early childhood special education starts with knowing typical development, so you can spot when a child is off track and plan the next step.
Key words
- Adaptive skills
- Everyday self-help skills like eating, dressing, and toileting. — e.g. A 3-year-old learning to use a spoon.
- Developmental milestone
- A skill most children reach by a certain age range. — e.g. Walking by about 12-15 months.
- Developmental delay
- A significant lag in one or more developmental domains compared with typical development. — e.g. A 2-year-old with very limited words.
- Risk factor
- A condition that increases the chance of a developmental problem. — e.g. Prematurity or lead exposure.
- Autism spectrum disorder
- A developmental disability with differences in social communication and restricted or repetitive behaviors. — e.g. Limited joint attention and repetitive play.
FIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DOMAINS
Cognitive (thinking, problem solving), communication (receptive and expressive language), physical (gross and fine motor), social-emotional (relationships, self-regulation), and adaptive (self-help skills like eating, dressing, toileting). IDEA uses these domains to describe delays.
PRINCIPLES OF DEVELOPMENT
Development follows a predictable sequence but at individual rates. It goes cephalocaudal (head to toe) and proximodistal (center outward). Domains affect each other: a hearing loss can delay language, which can affect social skills.
SAMPLE MILESTONES (APPROXIMATE)
By about 12 months: first words, pulling to stand, pointing. By about 18 months: walking, several words. By about 24 months: two-word phrases, running, parallel play. By about 3 years: short sentences, pedaling a tricycle. By about 4-5 years: telling stories, hopping, cooperative play.
RISK FACTORS
Biological risks (prematurity, low birth weight, genetic conditions like Down syndrome, prenatal substance exposure) and environmental risks (poverty, neglect, lead exposure, trauma). Protective factors (responsive caregivers, early intervention) improve outcomes.
COMMON DISABILITIES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
Developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder (social communication differences and restricted or repetitive behaviors), speech-language impairment, cerebral palsy (motor), hearing and vision impairments, and genetic syndromes. Early identification and intervention make a big difference.
Remember this
- Five domains: cognitive, communication, physical, social-emotional, adaptive.
- Sequence is predictable; rate varies.
- Domains influence each other.
- Know biological and environmental risk factors.
- Refer early when patterns of delay appear.
Domains are 'CCPSA': Cognitive, Communication, Physical, Social-emotional, Adaptive.
Every lesson in the course
I. Child Development and Early Learning
20%- Typical and Atypical Development Across DomainsFree
- Theories of Development and Early Learning
II. Curriculum, Planning, and Instruction
20%- Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Natural Environments, and Embedded Instruction
- Intervention Strategies: Prompting, Reinforcement, and Positive Behavior Support
- Communication, Assistive Technology, and Inclusion
III. Assessment
20%- Types and Purposes of Assessment
- Child Find, Evaluation, Eligibility, and Team Assessment
IV. Partnering and Collaboration
20%- Family-Centered Practice and Cultural Responsiveness
- Teaming, Collaboration, and Transitions
V. Legal and Ethical Practice and Professionalism
20%- IDEA Part C and Part B: IFSP, IEP, and Key Principles
- Other Laws, Ethics, and Professionalism