Developmental Cascades

Waves and Cycles of Human Development

Waterfall cascades down a hillside, following multiple pathways down into the same pool of water

Why Developmental Cascades?

Our project investigates a shift in the language used to describe typical child development—moving from the traditional “ages and stages” framework to a more dynamic concept of “waves of development.” This exploration led us to the term "Developmental Cascades" within the field of Developmental Psychology. A preliminary review of common education journals revealed no recent references to this concept.

To bridge this gap, we have brought together a collaborative group (Co-Lab) of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, Educational Policymakers, Developmental Psychologists, and Montessori practitioners. Together, we are exploring how Developmental Cascades can provide a more comprehensive understanding of child and human development over time and across domains.

As part of our work, we are engaging deeply with key texts that shape the discourse on Developmental Cascades within Developmental Psychology.

Who We Are:

Co-Lab: An international, interdisciplinary, multilingual, and multigenerational team

Co-Lab Co-founders:

Zlata Stanković-Ramirez, PhD: Texas Woman’s University

Josh Thompson, PhD: East Texas A&M University

Co-Lab Members:

Mary Harper, PhD: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Danielle McLellan-Bujnak, MSc: North Orange County Community College District

Marta Mercado-Sierra, PhD: Texas Woman’s University

Catalina Murcia: Casa de Paz Montessori

Daniela A. Uribe Montserrat: Tecnológico de Monterrey

Former members:

Melissa Heinrich: The University of Texas at Dallas

Rachael Rose: Texas Woman’s University

Karen Walker, PhD: East Texas A&M University

Bibliography

Masten, A. S., & Cicchetti, D. (2010). Developmental cascades. Development and Psychopathology, 22(3), 491–495. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579410000222

Oakes, L. M., & Rakison, D. H. (2020). Developmental cascades: Building the infant mind. Oxford University Press.

Siegler, R. S. (1996). Emerging Minds: The Process of Change in Children’s Thinking. Oxford University Press.

Tamis-LeMonda, C., & Lockman, J. J. (2023). Developmental Cascades. Elsevier Science & Technology.

Publications

Walker, K., Heinrich, M., Uribe Montserrat, D. A., Stanković-Ramirez, Z., & Thompson, J. (2025). Examining the role of developmental cascades in early care and education. Literature Reviews in Education and Human Services, 4(1).

Research & Projects

Conference Presentations

2023:

NAECTE National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (Annual)

NAEYC National Association for the Education of Young Children Poster (Annual)

2024:

Texas Early Childhood Summit

Texas Play & Development Conference

World Forum Foundation on Early Care & Education

Texas Rising Star Early Educator Conferences

NAEYC Professional Learning Institute Presentation

NAECTE (Summer)

Zero to Three LEARN

Texas AEYC (Annual)

NAEYC Featured CEU Presentation (Annual)

2025:

SECA Southern Early Childhood Association (Annual)

Texas School Ready Summer Institute

NAECTE National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (Summer)

NAEYC Learning Lab: 2024 Annual Conference Edition

NAEYC National Association for the Education of Young Children (Annual)

Water cascades down over rocks in a river

Developmental Cascades