A Glimpse into Childhood

• Psychosocial development

• Moral development• Physical

development• Gender development• Friendships and play• Empathy• Prosocial reasoning

Infants and Toddlers: 0-2 years

• Trust vs. mistrust• Sensorimotorskills such as

eye-hand or eye foot coordination; weight quadruples; first word & first step by first birthday (+/-)

• Gender identity by 2 ½• Friendships and play

become increasingly more interactive

• Brain is shaped by social experiences; lack object permanence at first

• Global empathy: strong emotions in others create similar emotion in self

• Egocentric empathy 1-2 or 3 years…child understands separateness of self, understands experience was not his/her own; tries to comfort by offering/doing what would make him/her feel better

• Baby emotions• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sttO_GrO7

Tk

• Twins talking to each other• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQbYc7qLg

Bc

Preschoolers: 3-5 years • Autonomy vs. shame and

doubt; initiative vs. guilt• Punishment/obedience;

individualism/exchange; being good…mutual expectations; social systems and conscience; social contract AND individual rights

• Gross motor coordination/fine motor refinement

• Gender: Boys more aggressive/assertive ; knowledge of gender stereotypes; increasing differences in play; understand gender stability & specific gender traits

• Empathy for another …child understands others’ feelings differ from his/her own and offers what other person finds helpful

• Symbolic and sociodramatic play emerges; friendships based on time together, sharing toys, enjoying same games

• Hedonistic reasoning; concerned with own needs and consequences for self

School Age: 6-12 years• Industry vs. inferiority• Social contract AND

individual rights govern; may begin to develop universal ethical principles

• Large muscle development; energetic, become competitive

• Rigidity in gender stereotyped beliefs gives way to understanding cultural relativity and acceptance of cross gender behavior and appearance

• Logical rules, reality based play, physical skills and sports. Develop loyal and faithful friends

• Empathy for another…child understands others/ feelings differ from his/her own and others what other person finds helpful

• Concerned for needs of others even if in conflict with own needs; concerned with being accepted by others and gaining approval

Adolescence: 13 to ??• Identity vs. role confusion• Puberty• Social contract AND

individual rights prevail; continue developing towards universal ethical principles

• Empathetic: sympathy for others, guilt for not helping, vague references to internalized values become increasingly stronger

• Intimate friends; leisure activities; affiliation

• Empathy for another’s life conditions …understand emotions can be due to life circumstances; feel empathy for a group

References

• Child Development: Principles and PerspectivesSecond EditionCook and Cook2009

Allyn and Bacon, Publishers

• Yardsticks:Children in the Classroom Ages 4-14Chip Wood1997NEFC, Publisher