RAISING AND EDUCATING CHILDREN; THE FIVE MAJOR STAGES OF GROWTH IN GENERAL – AN AID FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS
If you are a parent who has recently welcomed a little one or a caregiver of young minds, principles of child development come in handy and help design places that help nurture the young one. In this specific article, we will delve into the five major stages of child development and give parents and care givers suggestions which will enable them in bringing up healthy children.
STAGE ONE - INFANCY (0 - 2 YEARS): BUILDING TRUST AND SECURE ATTACHMENT
The infant stage of life is the period extending from birth to two years characterized by attainment of a child’s basic emotional and physical needs. This period is also important in enabling the development of trust, safety and attachment. It is during infancy that a child develops the first relationships with caregivers, more often than not parents, which prepare children for other types of relations and for emotional well being later on.
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES ATTAINED BY AN INFANT
• Physical
Growth: There is rapid physical growth developmental changes in babies at this
period. This growth is seen from the first smiles to the first steps as the
motor skills develop fast. Control of head and neck, then body mechanisms is
acquired with different mastery levels including mastering walking and
coordination.
• Cognitive
Development: Babies begin to comprehend the images of people and things that
are familiar to them. With the development of the precise senses mostly the
eyes and ears, they also begin to respond to some sounds and even follow some
movements with their eyes.
• Emotional
Development: Attachment theory holds that emotional security is tied to
underpinning maternal relationships. Trust commonly develops in the child,
whose primary caregiver is a responsive one who attends to the infant’s needs.
Emotions also begin with babies ‘acting ‘through their first behaviors which
include crying, smiling, and laughing.
GUIDELINES FOR THE CAREGIVERS AND EDUCATORS
• Safety
and Stimulation: Infants are likely to explore, hence, safe objects to play
with and engaging in sensory activities such as the use of touch, sound, and
sight are all helpful in fostering their mental and emotional growth.
• Caring and
Engaging: Respond quickly, whenever the baby is crying or in distress, to
cultivate a sense of trust. These practices make the baby feel safe and cared
for.
• Communication: Infants at this stage do not talk but interacting with them verbally and making eye contact is important in promoting language acquisition. Reading is beneficial for babies’ growth and consideration for this begins at newborn stage or even before that.
STAGE TWO: EARLY CHILDHOOD (2-6 YEARS) - THE PROLIFERATION OF LANGUAGE AND SOCIAL SKILLS
The early years of life are characterized by a lot of
development, especially in language and socially. During this period of time,
children learn the basic skills which will help them in the future in
schooling, emotional development, and relations with other people. Later, as
they progress to the preschool or kindergarten stage, children begin to engage
the surrounding environment in a more active manner.
IMPORTANT MILESTONES OCCURING EARLY IN CHILDHOOD
• Language Development: At this stage, they undergo what is
referred to as the language explosion. Most kids two years of age can use about
200-1000 vocabulary. By 5 to 6 years of age, they can appropriately use full
sentences and engage in interactions.
• Development of Social Skills: There is also increased
interaction with other children and adults. They begin to play with others,
distribute objects, and know such things as “I am sorry,” and “do not do that,”
– that is the basic understanding of sharing and taking turns as well as
empathy. They begin to make friends but also begin to understand there are
rules in the society.
• Cognitive Development: This is also the age when children engage in pretend play. Role-play, make-believe games, and storytelling activity encourage imagination. They start to grasp ideas of time, casual relationships, basic mathematics, and counting as well.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS
- Embrace Play: Play is very important to research about early child development. It helps increases cognitive, social, and emotional abilities. Let everyone engage in imaginative activities like role play, construction, drawing, field trips and many more.
- Stimulate Language Development: Children should be talked
to all the time. Give them tips and let them answer as they wish. It is also
important that they are read to daily for their language development.
- Encourage Socializing Skills: Take advantage of some situations when conflict arises (like sharing a toy) to teach them about empathy, helping others, and problem solving. At this age, rewarding for appropriate behavior is also helpful.
DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE 3: CHILDREN (6-12) - THE LEARNING PROCESS IS QUITE INDEPENDENT
This period is known as middle childhood, aged anywhere
between 6 and 12, where most of the children reach a level of autonomy and work
towards the establishment of their academic, social, and personal selves.
Developmental processes occur while cognitive skills are being developed and
children begin to perform higher-order functions such as problem analysis and
critical assessments. It is also the age whereby the children are taught what
is good and what is bad from the society mostly by their parents and teachers.
MAJOR POINTS TO REMEMBER IN MIDDLE CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT:
• Cognitive: There is an improvement in children’s logical
thinking. They are able to understand and implement simple operations such as
following a series of directive steps, solving basic math, and the reasoning
behind conservation ( for example, figuring that the same volume or mass can
have different shapes).
• Academic Skills: Middle childhood is when formal education
is mostly expected. Children master the three R’s more specifically reading,
writing and arithmetic. They also understand how to do their work, and some may
begin to like certain areas like, for example, science or art and sports.
• Social Development: Relationships begin to hold more
importance with friendships and peers become central to the emotional and
social life of children. There is an understanding of social structure
development in children, and they are able to play alongside other children in
an organized manner.
• Emotional Development: Children begin to recognize their emotions and even begin to have self- esteem. In addition, they are taught what is called the social ladder and how to use it.
ADVICE FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS
• Promotion of Learning: Build a passion for knowledge.
Arrange for homework and study time free from noises and other stimuli. Offer
praise for effort over results as a means to foster a growth mindset.
• Promote Collaboration: Involve children in group events,
for instance, participatory sports and group learning projects. This enables
them to build their teamwork, communication and leadership skills.
• Help with Psychological Development: Allow your kid to express his or her mood. Manage the child’s worries and disputes in a more compassionate way. Give them a place where their feelings are accepted and safe to express.
STAGE NO- 4 : ADOLESCENCE (12-18 YEARS) - IDENTITY, INDEPENDENCE AND EMOTIONAL LABYRINTH
Adolescence is a well-known stage in the physiological, emotional, and psychological transformation of human beings. Exploration of identity, independence, and relationships takes a different qualitative dimension with the onset of puberty. This stage is crucial for formation of identity and staying prepared for the responsibilities of adulthood. This Developmental Stage is challenging for adolescent because adults guardians in this stage are important.
DEVELOPMENT IN ADOLESCENCE
• Physical
Development: When puberty occurs, dramatic alterations in the body are
experienced. Physical growth, sexual development and changes in body structure
are mainly governed by hormone changes. Most adolescents, however loathe these
changes and may be self-conscious.
• Cognitive
Development: Adolescents become capable of thinking conceptually, resolving
problems logically, and imagining future scenarios. Their decision-making
abilities develop further but may still be hampered by the lack of
self-control.
• Identity
Development: It is the stage of adolescent development when an individual
begins to search for her/his identity, values, and beliefs in a very different
way than before. There is peer pressure, but there is a need for freedom as
well. This is the crisis of self-identity, which is key to adolescence.
• Emotional Development: There are fluctuations of emotions throughout the adolescent stage. This may include crying, aggression, discontentment, and the need for increased independence.
ADVICE FOR PARENTS AND EDUCATORS
- Prompt Identity Development: Allow the youths to
appreciate their likes, stirs, and orientations. Step back with a reassuring
presence as they face the process of self-discovery.
- Show the Way: Assist the adolescents in comprehending the
effects of their behavior, and help them endeavor to make more reasonable
choices. Give them time to stretch their limits.
- Encourage Healthy Dialogues: Most of the teenagers
distance themselves from the adults in authority, however, keeping
communication channels open is very important. Hear them out and be
non-judgmental.
STAGE NO-5: YOUNG ADULTHOOD (18 - 25 YEARS) - THE CULMINATION OF TRANSITION INTO INDEPENDENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY
Young adulthood is more appropriately defined as a period
that lies between adolescence and adulthood, although it is not regarded as
childhood. It is characterized by increasing independence, pursuing career and
education, and building intimate relationships. At this stage, the
developmental task is to figure out who they are, and they take control over
more of their life.
MAJOR DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES IN YOUNG ADULTHOOD
• Physical Development: There is generally a decline in
physical growth during this period but young adults are motor skill definers in
their physical prime.
• Cognitive Development: Young adults enhance their ability
for critical thinking and problem solving, especially in making decisions. They
start gauging the results of their decisions in the future.
• Emotional and Social Development: Relationships taking
precedence in their lives among other factors, young adults seek friendly and
romantic interpersonal relations even as they aspire towards various
occupations and systems of beliefs. Cleavage is achieved from the family and
many young adults are usually found to be on their own, studying or working.
TIPS FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS
• Enable independence: While monitoring and giving support
whenever necessary, allow them to be self governing and self reliant.
• Create a sense of responsibility: Help them appreciate the
need for responsible decisions and the necessity of accountability for actions
taken.
CONCLUSION
In summary, there has to be adequate support in every stage
of childhood development. Most child development theories postulate five stages
which are critical for any parent or teacher to master. These are staged
periods of development and learning and knowing what to expect where can enable
the adults to give appropriate help where it is needed and at the right time.
Whether it is developing a child’s ability to trust in infancy, encouraging the
child’s fantasies in the preschool years, or channeling their learning towards
bringing-up independent adolescents, all stages are equally important in the
entire rearing of a child. Such passion, interest, patience and understanding
towards stage development enables parents and teachers in raising children who
will grow up having self assurance and competence as well as empathy.
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