Here is a summary of Children's Growth Patterns (Physical, Social-Emotional, Language, and Cognitive) taken from Yardsticks - Children in the Classroom Ages 4-14 3rd Edition by Chip Wood.  

This can serve as a common starting point from which parents and teachers can begin communicating about a child as a whole person - a person with intellectual, social and emotional, physical, and language strengths and needs.

Recognizing these different stages can allow adults to give their child opportunities to grow their naturally emerging capacities at their present stage.