Developmental Stages

Of Children

A toddler is learning to walk (physical), learning colors (intellectual), is uncomfortable with strangers (social), expressing feelings of independence (emotional), and becoming aware of adult disapproval for misbehavior (moral).

There are five areas of human development:

!! Physical development: the changes in size, shape, and physical maturity
of the body, including physical abilities and coordination.

!! Intellectual development: the learning and use of language; the ability

to reason, problem-solve, and organize ideas; it is related to the physical growth of the brain. needed to interact successfully with others.

!! Social development: the process of gaining the knowledge and skills !! Emotional development: feelings and emotional responses to events;

changes in understanding one's own feelings and appropriate forms of expressing them. the change in behavior caused by that understanding; sometimes called a conscience.

!! Moral development: the growing understanding of right and wrong, and

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). person has its roots in this age period.

!! The child's self-concept as a lovable and worthwhile !! 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. objects, stairs, streets). word is "NO!"

!! The child begins to learn about limits (hot stoves, the use of !! Child gets angry easily; likes to assert himself, and his favorite !! 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. oriented activities.

!! The needs of the child revolve around tasks, hobbies, and skill!! 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. with the family over limits, values , responsibilities, friends, and plans for the future.

!! The establishment of independence. This can create tension

When development and age dont match

Summary
!! Development occurs in stages related to age. !! These stages are sequential, they can not be skipped. !! Each stage of development has certain tasks associated with it that
must be accomplished before moving to the next stage.
!! !! !! !! !!
Physical Intellectual Social Emotional Moral

!! There are five areas of development:

!! A person can become "stuck" at a certain stage of development in one or

more areas.

!! Abuse and neglect can slow the developmental process.