Which developmental stage corresponds to the birth to age 2 segment in early childhood education?

The developmental stage that corresponds to the birth to age 2 segment in early childhood education is referred to as infancy. During this critical stage, infants undergo rapid physical, cognitive, and emotional development. They establish foundational skills such as sensory perception and motor skills, which are essential for their overall growth. Infants begin to engage with their environment through exploration, forming attachments to caregivers, and experiencing early communication through cooing and babbling.

While toddlerhood, which follows infancy (ages 1 to 3), focuses on increased independence and mobility, as well as the beginning of more complex social interactions, infancy specifically highlights the initial and crucial developmental milestones that occur in the first two years. Options like preschool and early childhood refer to broader periods of development that encompass ages beyond infancy, thus making them less specific to the birth to age 2 timeframe.