'child-centered' originates from Modern English, a compound of 'child' (from Old English 'cild') and 'centered' formed from 'center' (from Latin 'centrum' via Old French 'centre'), where 'cild' meant 'young person' and 'centrum' meant 'central point'.

'child' developed from Old English 'cild'; 'center' came from Latin 'centrum' to Old French 'centre' and then Middle English 'centre' before modern English 'center'. The adjectival form 'centered' was formed by adding the participial suffix '-ed' to 'center', and modern compounding produced 'child-centered'.

Initially, 'center' meant a physical 'central point'; combining it with 'child' originally signified 'having the child as the center/point of focus'. Over time this became generalized to mean approaches, programs, or perspectives that prioritize children's needs and viewpoints.