The cognitive domain is generally associated with a child’s ability to learn, remember, and solve problems. Cognition refers to intellect or mental abilities and involves processing and using information. The skills in the cognitive domain, along with language skills, are those usually associated with readiness for academic activities.

Adaptive skills are those in which the child uses the information and skills acquired in the other domains. As adaptive skills develop there are increases in a child’s participation in personal care and daily routines. Adaptive skills also include a child’s ability to enter a new environment or situation as well as engage in a familiar/desirable activity with minimal prompting.

Personal-Social skills are those which allow a child to engage in meaningful social interaction with adults and peers and to develop his/her own self-concept. Milestones in this domain are centered on children gaining better understandings of their own emotions and the emotions of others. Engaging in play activities is an important aspect of the development of personal-social skills because it is through play that children learn how to interact with others. As personal-social skills develop there are increases in a child’s understanding of relationships, self-awareness, empathy, and coping strategies.

Skills in the motor domain are related to a child’s ability to control and use large and small muscles of the body. During infancy, motor abilities typically develop in a specific sequential order. However, it is important to note that the rate of motor development differs among children (e.g., standing, walking). As a child’s motor skills develop there are likely to be increases in his/her interest in and attention items in the environment.

Receptive Communication: Skills include responding to sounds and words, associating pictures and objects with words, and responding to questions with either nonverbal or verbal responses.

 Expressive Communication: Skills relate to the ability to relate information to others by gestures, sounds, words, and sentences. This domain includes a child’s ability to use language during social contact. The production of speech sounds is also included.