A stage of development is an age period when certain needs, behaviors, experiences and capabilities are common and different from other age periods. Here are some behaviors you might expect to see at certain stages.
Birth to 18 Months
The focus is developing trust. The accomplishment of this is highly dependent on the parents or other caregivers providing care (things like warmth, food, hugging, stimulation).
- The child's self-concept as a lovable and worthwhile person has its roots in this age period.
- Since trust is a major building block for all relationships, every area of development (physical, intellectual, social, emotional and moral) is likely to be affected by the events of this stage.
18 Months to Three Years
The child's task is to establish a distinct self, separate from parent figures.
- The primary needs are increased control over feeding and toilet habits, without experiencing rejection or harm from too much independence.
- The child begins to learn about limits (hot stoves, the use of objects, stairs, streets).
- Child gets angry easily; likes to assert himself, and his favorite word is "NO!"
- This period is especially connected to physical growth, especially the capacity to walk, run, climb, and control elimination.
Three to Seven Years
The child's major task is to develop a sense of reality that is distinct from fantasy.
- A primary concern of the child is sex differences, and it includes interest in pregnancy and birth.
- This is a period of high creativity.
- There is a strong need to make distinctions between what is real and what is imagined.
Seven to Twelve Years
The child's task is to develop a sense of values to guide decision making and interests, as well as capabilities that lay the foundation for future decisions.
- The needs of the child revolve around tasks, hobbies, and skill-oriented activities.
- Friendship with peers, especially of the same sex, is important.
- Competition is heightened, as is preoccupation with performance.
Twelve to Eighteen Years
The child has two main tasks.
- To create a personal identity based on the integration of values and a sense of self. The adolescent must establish an identity in relation to society, the opposite sex, ideas, the future, possible vocations, and the universe.
- The establishment of independence. This can create tension with the family over limits, values , responsibilities, friends, and plans for the future.
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FAQs
Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, behave, and move (for example, crawling and walking). Children develop at their own pace, so it's impossible to tell exactly when a child will learn a given skill.
What are the 5 stages of child development? ›
What are the 5 Stages of Child Development? These are Newborn Development, Infant Development, Toddler Development, Preschooler Development, and School-Age Development.
What is an example of a developmental process? ›
Examples of biological processes affecting development include genes, brain development, increase in height and weight, cardiovascular decline, and hormonal changes caused by puberty (Santrock, 2020). Cognitive processes produce changes in thoughts, intelligence, and language.
What is an example of developmental changes? ›
This includes observable changes, such as growing taller and gaining mass. However, it can also include unobservable patterns of growth, such as the growth of internal structures and organs, like the brain and lungs.
What is the best example of growth and development? ›
Growth is a process that focuses on quantitative improvement. For instance, a child visibly grows in weight and height. Development focuses on both qualitative and quantitative refinement. For instance, a child's IQ increases with the growing age.
How do you explain stages of development? ›
The key components of Erikson's model of human development include stage one, infancy, trust versus mistrust; stage two, toddlerhood, autonomy versus shame and doubt; stage three, preschool years, initiative versus guilt; stage four, early school years, industry versus inferiority; stage five, adolescence, identity ...
What is the most important stage of child development? ›
Recent brain research indicates that birth to age three are the most important years in a child's development. Here are some tips to consider during your child's early years: Be warm, loving, and responsive.
What are the six developmental stages in a healthy childhood? ›
Now let's look at the 6 Key Stage of Development.
- Attachment (0 – 18 months): At this stage, babies are developing their emotional security and feel fully enmeshed with their primary caregivers. ...
- Exploration (18 months – 3 years): ...
- Identity (3-4 years): ...
- Competence (4-7 years): ...
- Concern (7-13 years): ...
- Intimacy (13-19 years):
The characteristics of child development stages
These characteristics are physical, intellectual, emotional and social. Although these are four separate categories, they do each intertwine with one another, as progress in one characteristic often leads to progress in another characteristic.
What is a developmental state example? ›
While the term developmental states was initially and is still, frequently used to describe countries such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Viet Nam, which have experienced rapid economic growth through state-led policies or interventions.
Real-life Example of Developmental Theory of Crime
One such instance is the multidisciplinary intervention program targeted at young offenders. Rather than focusing solely on punitive measures, these programs draw from developmental theories to offer comprehensive support.
What is an example of cognitive development stage? ›
The Concrete Operational Stage of Cognitive Development
Begin to understand the concept of conservation; that the amount of liquid in a short, wide cup is equal to that in a tall, skinny glass, for example. Thinking becomes more logical and organized, but still very concrete.
What is typical child development? ›
A baby only learns to hold his head, grasp, crawl, sit, stand, and walk in the first year.[2] They also begin to smile, and language is developed by cooing and babbling. As they grow, they show interest in others and their surroundings and learn to follow simple commands.
What are developmental changes in children? ›
Growth and development includes not only the physical changes that occur from infancy to adolescence, but also some of the changes in emotions, personality, behavior, thinking and speech that children develop as they begin to understand and interact with the world around them.
What are examples of developmental issues? ›
Developmental disorder types
- ADHD.
- Autism spectrum disorder.
- Cerebral palsy.
- Hearing loss.
- Intellectual disability.
- Learning disability.
- Vision impairment.
Child development refers to the physical, cognitive, emotional and social growth that occurs throughout a child's life. Children's mental health – their cognitive, behavioural and social wellbeing – is affected by this development, as well as other factors like trauma and abuse.
What is development in terms of child development? ›
Child development refers to the sequence of physical, language, thought and emotional changes that occur in a child from birth to the beginning of adulthood. During this process a child progresses from dependency on their parents/guardians to increasing independence.
What are the 4 main types of growth and development? ›
- Physical – body growth that includes height and weight changes.
- Mental – intellectual development, problem solving.
- emotional – refers to feelings and includes dealing with love, hate, joy, fear, excitement, and other similar feelings.
- social – refers to interactions and relationships with other people.
Typical development occurs when a child is meeting the standardized milestones at the appropriate stages. Some examples of typical childhood development include the following: Responding to their names by 6 months. Crawling by 12 months. Saying two-word phrases by age 2.
The child's major task is to develop a sense of reality that is distinct from fantasy.
The child's task is to develop a sense of values to guide decision making and interests, as well as capabilities that lay the foundation for future decisions.
The child has two main tasks.
