Child Development Terms

noun lack of deceit or cunning

• The artlessness of his speech made it clear that he was not well-prepared.
• Her artlessness in social situations often led to awkward moments.
• I can't believe his artlessness in trying to flirt with her.
• The artlessness of the painting gave it a raw and authentic feel.

adjective describes the state of being asleep

adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb to indicate that someone is sleeping or in a state of sleep

• The baby finally fell asleep after being rocked to sleep for an hour.
• I couldn't stay asleep last night because of the loud noises outside.
• I was so exhausted that I passed out asleep on the couch.
• Her creativity was asleep for years until she started painting again.

adjective having the qualities or characteristics of a child, such as innocence, playfulness, or naivete

• The artist's paintings often evoke a sense of childlike wonder and innocence.
• She has a childlike enthusiasm for all things Disney.
• He's got such a childlike vibe, always goofing around and making jokes.
• The melody had a childlike simplicity that was both charming and haunting.

adjective describing someone who lacks coordination or is awkward in movement

• The clumsy waiter spilled water on the customer's lap.
• I'm so clumsy, I keep dropping things everywhere.
• She's such a klutz, always tripping over her own feet.
• His clumsy attempt at flirting left her unimpressed.

verb to treat with excessive care or kindness

• The young prince was coddled by his parents and never had to lift a finger.
• She's been coddled her whole life, so she doesn't know how to do anything for herself.
• Stop coddling him, he needs to learn how to take care of himself.
• The writer coddled his ideas, afraid to take any risks in his work.

adjective a term used to describe someone who is easily irritated or grumpy

• The professor was feeling cranky after grading papers all night.
• My mom gets really cranky when she's hungry.
• I don't know why he's so cranky today, must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed.
• The old car was cranky and took a while to start in the cold weather.

noun a loud vocal expression of strong emotion, especially pain or sorrow

verb to shed tears or make a loud vocal expression of strong emotion

• The baby began to cry as soon as her mother left the room.
• I always cry during sad movies, no matter how many times I've seen them.
• She was so moved by the song that she couldn't help but cry.
• The beauty of the sunset made her heart cry with joy.

verb Crying is a verb that describes the action of shedding tears as an expression of emotion or pain.

• The baby was crying uncontrollably, causing concern among the daycare staff.
• I found her crying in the bathroom, so I offered her some tissues.
• She was crying her eyes out after watching that sad movie.
• The old house seemed to be crying out for renovation, with its peeling paint and sagging roof.

noun a female child or offspring

pronoun a word that can function by itself as a noun phrase and that refers either to the participants in the discourse (e.g., I, you) or to someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse (e.g., she, it, this)

• The daughter of the CEO is expected to take over the company one day.
• My daughter is always asking for the latest gadgets.
• My daughter is totally obsessed with TikTok.
• The new law is like a strict parent to its daughter, the citizens.

verb to discharge feces from the body

• It is important to teach children the proper place to defecate.
• Make sure you don't defecate in the bushes, use the restroom instead.
• I can't believe you defecated in the pool, that's disgusting!
• Sometimes we need to defecate negative thoughts to feel better.

noun Good manners refers to polite and respectful behavior in social interactions.

• It is important to always exhibit good manners in professional settings.
• My grandma always reminds me to use good manners at the dinner table.
• Dude, you gotta have some good manners when you're out with my parents.
• Having good manners is like showing respect to the world around you.

verb to gradually but firmly establish or introduce (an attitude, idea, or habit) in a person or group

• The teacher instilled a sense of discipline in her students through consistent enforcement of rules.
• My mom instilled in me the importance of saving money from a young age.
• My older brother instilled in me a love for hip hop music.
• The artist's work instilled a sense of wonder and awe in all who viewed it.

noun a noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'invalidation' is a noun that refers to the act of making something invalid or void.

• The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, citing the invalidation of the contract due to lack of proper signatures.
• She felt a sense of invalidation when her ideas were dismissed by her colleagues.
• I hate when people try to invalidate my feelings just because they don't agree with them.
• The constant invalidation from her parents made her feel like her emotions didn't matter.

noun a form of imaginative play or fantasy

verb to pretend or imagine

• Children often engage in make believe play to develop their imagination and creativity.
• Let's play make believe and pretend we're pirates searching for treasure!
• My little sister loves to do make believe with her dolls.
• Sometimes it's easier to make believe everything is okay rather than facing reality.

noun the state or experience of being a mother; the qualities or characteristics associated with being a mother

• Motherhood is often considered a full-time job that requires dedication and sacrifice.
• My friend is adjusting to the challenges of motherhood with grace and humor.
• She's totally rocking the whole motherhood thing, even with her crazy schedule.
• The company's commitment to sustainability is like the motherhood of environmental responsibility.

adjective showing a lack of attention or care; negligent

• The neglectful behavior of the caregiver led to serious consequences for the child.
• She was neglectful of her responsibilities and ended up in trouble.
• He's so neglectful, always forgetting to do his chores.
• The neglectful attitude towards the environment will have long-term effects on future generations.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, in this case, 'oversensitive' describes someone who is excessively sensitive or easily offended

• She is known to be oversensitive to criticism, often taking offense at the slightest comment.
• Don't be so oversensitive, I was just joking around.
• Some people are just too thin-skinned and oversensitive about everything.
• His oversensitive nature was like a fragile glass, easily shattered by the words of others.

noun the activity of engaging in games or sports

verb the action of engaging in a game or sport

adjective describing someone who is participating in a game or sport

• The children were playing in the park under the watchful eye of their parents.
• We're just playing around with some new ideas for the project.
• I love playing video games with my friends on the weekends.
• She's been playing with fire by ignoring the warnings about her risky behavior.

adjective describing someone or something as having a protruding belly; having a large, round belly

• The potbellied man was seen walking slowly down the street.
• That potbellied guy sure can eat a lot!
• Check out the potbellied dude over there.
• The company's finances were potbellied after the economic downturn.

noun a precocious person

adjective having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an earlier age than is usual or expected

• The precocious child was reading at a high school level by the age of 5.
• She's such a precocious little thing, always asking questions and wanting to learn.
• That kid is seriously precocious, like a mini genius or something.
• His precocious talent for music was evident from a very young age.

noun the state of being premature or occurring before the expected time

• The doctor explained that the baby's prematurity could lead to certain health complications.
• She was born with prematurity, but she's a fighter and doing well now.
• Prematurity is no joke, it can cause serious issues for the baby.
• The prematurity of their decision led to unexpected consequences.

noun a type of toy horse mounted on rockers that simulate the rocking motion of a real horse

• The children took turns riding the beautifully crafted rocking horse in the nursery.
• I found a vintage rocking horse at the flea market for my niece's birthday.
• Let's hop on the rocking horse and have some fun!
• Her emotions were like a wild ride on a rocking horse, constantly shifting and unpredictable.

noun a rough or rowdy play or activity

verb to engage in rough or rowdy play or activity

• The children were reprimanded for engaging in roughhouse play in the schoolyard.
• The kids were roughhousing in the backyard and having a blast.
• Stop roughhousing with your siblings, you're going to break something!
• The political debate turned into a roughhouse argument with both candidates attacking each other's policies.

noun a blanket or other item that provides a sense of comfort or security, especially to a child

• The child held onto his security blanket tightly as he walked through the unfamiliar surroundings.
• Whenever she feels anxious, she clings to her security blanket for comfort.
• I always carry my security blanket with me when I travel, just in case.
• For him, music was his security blanket during tough times, providing solace and comfort.

noun the act of controlling oneself, particularly in terms of emotions or desires

• The key to success in life is having self-restraint and discipline.
• I need to practice more self-restraint when it comes to eating junk food.
• Dude, you seriously need to work on your self-restraint when it comes to spending money.
• Her self-restraint was like a shield against temptation, keeping her focused on her goals.

noun A brother or sister; one's relative who shares the same parent or parents.

• The sibling relationship is an important bond that can last a lifetime.
• My sibling and I are always there for each other, no matter what.
• Me and my sib are super close, we tell each other everything.
• In a way, creativity and innovation are like siblings, each feeding off the other to thrive.

verb to interact with others in a social setting, typically for the purpose of enjoyment or networking

• It is important for individuals to socialize in order to build strong relationships and networks.
• Let's go out and socialize with some friends this weekend.
• I'm always down to hang out and socialize with the crew.
• In order for ideas to flourish, they must socialize with other concepts and perspectives.

noun an excessive amount

adjective excessive or more than necessary

adverb in an excessive manner or degree

• She consumed too much sugar in her diet, leading to health problems.
• I ate too much pizza last night and now I feel sick.
• I spent way too much money on those concert tickets.
• He was carrying too much emotional baggage from his past relationships.

noun a low, feeble sound expressive of fear, pain, or unhappiness

verb to make a low, feeble sound expressive of fear, pain, or unhappiness

• The injured dog let out a soft whimper as the veterinarian examined its leg.
• My little sister started to whimper when she couldn't find her favorite toy.
• I could hear him whimper like a baby when he saw the spider.
• The old car whimpered as it struggled to make it up the steep hill.

noun the amount of time spent engaging with electronic devices with screens

• Excessive screen time has been linked to various health issues in children.
• My mom always nags me about my screen time, but I can't help it.
• I need to cut down on my screen time or I'll go blind from staring at my phone all day.
• His screen time at work is through the roof, but he's always on top of things.

adjective showing nervousness or timidity in the company of other people

• She was always a bit shy in social situations, preferring to observe rather than participate.
• I noticed he gets a bit shy around new people, but he opens up once he gets to know them.
• My friend is super shy when it comes to talking to their crush.
• The new student was shy like a deer caught in headlights, unsure of how to navigate the unfamiliar environment.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

pronoun a word that can function by itself as a noun phrase and that refers either to the participants in the discourse or to someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

conjunction a word that connects words, phrases, or clauses

interjection a word or phrase that expresses a strong emotion or sudden feeling

article a word that specifies a noun as definite or indefinite

• In many cultures, it is believed that it takes a village to raise a child, emphasizing the importance of community support in child-rearing.
• They say it takes a village to raise a child, meaning that everyone in the community plays a role in a child's upbringing.
• Raising kids ain't easy, that's why they say it takes a village.
• Just like building a strong community, raising a child requires the collective effort of many - it takes a village.

noun ASD

• Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may exhibit challenges in social communication and interaction.
• My cousin was diagnosed with ASD when he was young.
• People with ASD often see the world differently.
• Navigating social situations can be like decoding a puzzle for those with ASD.

noun a disorder characterized by a lack of exposure to nature and the outdoors, especially in childhood

• Nature-deficit disorder is a term used to describe the negative impact of spending too little time in nature on one's mental and physical health.
• Many people believe that nature-deficit disorder is becoming more common due to the rise of technology and indoor activities.
• I think I might have nature-deficit disorder because I feel so much better after spending time outside.
• In a world dominated by screens and concrete, nature-deficit disorder is like a silent epidemic affecting our well-being.

noun a noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'abnormalities' is a noun because it refers to the state or quality of being abnormal.

• The medical report indicated several abnormalities in the patient's blood work.
• The doctor said there were some weird things going on in your test results.
• Dude, your blood work came back with some really messed up stuff.
• The abnormalities in her behavior were a red flag for underlying issues.

verb A verb is a word that expresses an action or a state of being. In this case, 'acts out' is a verb phrase that indicates the action of performing or portraying something in a dramatic or exaggerated manner.

• The child often acts out in class, disrupting the learning environment for others.
• Whenever he doesn't get his way, he acts out and throws a tantrum.
• She acts out whenever she's feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
• His painting acts out his innermost emotions and struggles.

adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb to provide more information about the manner, place, time, degree, or frequency of an action

• The child was raised in an adoptively loving and supportive environment.
• She was brought up adoptively by her aunt and uncle.
• I heard he was taken in adoptively by his neighbor.
• The company adoptively embraced the new technology to stay competitive.