I made this glossary to help people understand the important terms about childhood education. Being an educator is not only playing with children, but learning and growing with them.
baby
noun
A very young child, especially one newly or recently born.
Example: I hear the baby crying.
en: bébé
caregiver
noun
A person who gives care to people who need help taking care of themselves.
Example: "The dedicated caregiver prepared healthy meals and read books to the kids all afternoon."
en: soignant
cognitive domain
phrase
The cognitive domain refers to the intellectual processes of thinking, knowing, and problem-solving, encompassing how we acquire and use knowledge, from basic recall to complex creation, as outlined in Bloom's Taxonomy. It's the "thinking" part of learning, focusing on mental skills like understanding, applying, analyzing, and evaluating information, distinct from emotional (affective) or physical (psychomotor) learning.
Example: The intervention targeted multiple cognitive domains including aspects of memory, executive function, and visual-spatial ability.
en: domaine cognitif
cooing
verb
(of a person) speak in a soft gentle voice.
Example: "I cruised the room, cooing at toddlers"
en: roucoulement
crawling
verb
Move forward on the hands and knees or by dragging the body close to the ground.
Example: "The baby was crawling across the living room rug toward her toys."
en: ramper
daycare
noun
Daytime care for the needs of people who cannot be fully independent, such as children or elderly people.
Example: "She left work early to pick up her son from daycare."
en: garderie
false fatigue
phrase
False fatigue is a temporary, artificial state of restlessness, distraction, and reduced focus often observed in children (typically around 10 a.m.) within Montessori classrooms. It appears as exhaustion or disorder but is actually a "false" dip in energy—a threshold leading to the deepest, most concentrated work of the day.
Example: The calm in the classroom is deceptive; it's just the false fatigue of 10 hours. They'll soon have a burst of energy.
en: fausse fatigue
giggles
verb
A light, high-pitched laugh.
Example: "The children's uncontrollable giggles filled the room."
en: rires
langage domain
phrase
The language domain for kids refers to the developmental area focused on acquiring communication skills, including understanding (receptive) and using (expressive) language to convey thoughts, needs, and feelings.
Example: "The five key language domains—phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics—are essential for developing effective communication skills."
en: domaine langagier
nursery school
phrase
A school for young children, mainly between the ages of three and five.
Example: "The children at the nursery school spent the morning playing with building blocks".
en: école maternelle
physical domain
phrase
A "physical domain" refers to the aspects of growth, movement, and the body, most commonly discussed in child development (physical growth, motor skills like walking/grasping, and senses) or, in computing, a set of shared hardware resources like memory. In human development, it covers physical changes, strength, coordination, senses, and brain development, impacting how a person interacts with their environment.
Example: Activities like jumping, throwing, and balancing directly enhance the physical domain.
en: domaine physique
playtime
noun
Time for play or recreation.
Example: "The children ran outside eagerly as soon as the bell rang for playtime"
en: récréation
preschool
adjective
Relating to the time before a child is old enough to go to kindergarten or elementary school.
Example: "She starts preschool this fall and is very excited to make new friends".
en: préscolaire
preschooler
noun
A student attending preschool.
Example: "Many toys are designed to help your preschooler develop necessary skills."
en: enfant d'âge préscolaire
preteen
noun
Relating to a child just under the age of thirteen.
Example: "The preteen was excited about starting middle school"
en: préadolescence
school-age
noun
The age range of children normally attending school.
Example: "millions of children of school age have no proper school to go to"
en: âge scolaire
sensory play
phrase
Sensory play is any activity that stimulates a child's senses (touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing, movement, body awareness) to help them explore, learn about, and make sense of the world, fostering cognitive, social, motor, and language skill development through open-ended, hands-on exploration.
Example: "Encouraging sensory play helps children learn and understand better."
en: jeu sensoriel
social domain
phrase
The social domain in child development refers to how children learn to interact with others, form relationships, and understand social rules. It encompasses developing empathy, sharing, taking turns, cooperating, and communicating with peers and adults to build a sense of belonging.
Example: "Children struggling in the social domain often require targeted support to navigate complex peer interactions and develop emotional regulation skills"
en: domaine social
teething
verb
The process of growing or cutting milk teeth.
Example: "The baby is very fussy tonight because she is teething".
en: poussée dentaire
toddler
noun
A young child who is just beginning to walk.
Example: "My toddler has started saying a few words".