The Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework

This article presents 11 domains or categories of early learning that Headstart Director, Yvette Sanchez Fuentes outlines in her presentation for the On the Road to School Readiness, Office of Headstart Summit, 2011.

Each category of child development contains two to five elements that are listed in detail following this chart. Understanding these domains is important to ensuring school readiness.

Physical Development and Health

4 Domain Elements

• Physical Health Status
• Health Knowledge & Practice
• Gross Motor Skills
• Fine Motor Skills

Social and Emotional Development

4 Domain Elements

• Social Relationships
• Self-Concept & Self-Efficacy
• Self-Regulation
• Emotional & Behavioral Health

Approaches to Learning

3 Domain Elements

• Initiative & Curiosity
• Persistence & Attentiveness
• Cooperation

Logic & Reasoning

2 Domain Elements

• Reasoning & Problem Solving
• Symbolic Representation

Language Development

2 Domain Elements

• Receptive Language
• Expressive Language

English Language Development

3 Domain Elements

• Receptive English Language Skills
• Express English Language Skills
• Engagement in English Literacy Activities

Literacy Knowledge & Skills

5 Domain Elements

• Book Appreciation
• Phonological Awareness
• Alphabet Knowledge
• Print Concepts & Conventions
• Early Writing

Mathematics Knowledge & Skills

5 Domain Elements

• Number Concepts & Quantities
• Number Relationships & Operations
• Geometry & Spatial Sense
• Patterns
• Measurement & Comparison

Science Knowledge & Skills

2 Domain Elements

• Scientific Skills & Methods
• Conceptual Knowledge of the Natural & Physical World

Creative Arts Expression

4 Domain Elements

• Music
• Creative Movement & Dance
• Art
• Drama

Social Studies Knowledge & Skills

3 Domain Elements

• Family & Community
• History & Events
• People & the Environment