Child Development refers to the changes that take place in children from birth to the period of adolescence - to the time when a child is no longer entirely dependent on his/her parents (or other adults). These changes are usually physical, biological, emotional, mental and psychological and are also influenced by genes and sometimes by prenatal events too. A child is deemed to be developing when he/she starts doing things on its own, learning new things and hence, starts gaining maturity.
Helene Goldnadel a life coach discusses the following different stages of child development:
Helene Goldnadel a life coach discusses the following different stages of child development:
- Infancy - This refers to the period from birth till around the age of one. The newborn quickly learns that its only mode of communication is crying which it aptly uses to express a variety of feelings like hunger, boredom or even its desire for wanting something. A little later, the infant starts developing emotionally through interaction with the adults.
- Toddler - This is the next stage when a child learns to walk and slowly develops motor skills and starts using proper language for communication. As understanding dawns, the child experiences great and rapid psychological changes too. He/she starts recognizing himself/herself in the mirror, displays attachment and starts doing things on his/her own.
- Preschooler - The period between ages three to six when a child goes through significant emotional, social, mental and physical changes. With the help of games, songs and stories, a child starts learning responsibility, individuality, cooperation and to think and reason in a proper way.
- School goers (Elementary school) - The stage when a child receives his/her first formal education and learns to read, write and develop mathematical skills.
- Adolescent - The age from thirteen to twenty when a child grows up physically and mentally into an adult. This is a transitional stage taking place between puberty to maturity and is characterised by rapid physical, emotional, mental and psychological changes.
These years are extremely critical as they lay the foundation of future life. How a person grows up to be, how he/she behaves, what are his values and ethics, how he/she communicates is influenced from these early years. For good development, it is thus important that a child should be taken good care of and properly instructed right from the beginning.
