Childhood: Definition, Early and Late Stages

Definition of Childhood

• Childhood is the period from infancy to puberty.
• Childhood is a time for education, play, growth, and feeling secure with family and community support.
• Children should experience freedom from fear, safety from violence, and protection from exploitation.
• It's an important time that shapes who a person becomes.

Early Childhood

• Early childhood is approximately from ages 2 to 6.
• Parents term it the "problem age" or "troublesome age" due to increased activity and curiosity.
• Educators often call it the "preschool age" as it is when children begin preschool or kindergarten.
• Psychologists refer to it as "pre-gang age" as children are not yet focused on peer groups.
• Psychologists term it "exploratory age" due to children's love for exploring and trying new things.
• Psychologists may call it "imitative/creative age" due to children copying others and using their imagination in play.

Late Childhood

• Late childhood is approximately from ages 6 to 12.
• Parents might call it "most problematic," "sloppy," or "quarrelsome" due to increased messiness, arguing, and independence.
• Educators call it the "elementary school age," viewing it as a critical period for achievement.
• Psychologists describe it as "gang age" due to the formation of close friendships.
• Psychologists term it the "creative age" because kids being imaginative, especially in school and play.
• Psychologists refer to it as "play age" due to play's importance in learning and socializing.

Adolescence

• Adolescence is the period after puberty, where a child develops into an adult, approximately ages 13-19.
• The term originates from the Latin word "adolescere," meaning "to grow up".
• Adolescence is a transitional stage with physical, psychological, and cultural changes that can vary in timing.
• It's a bridge between childhood and adulthood with changes in body, thinking, feeling, and behavior.

Growth and Development

• Human Growth and Development is a lifelong process involving physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes.
• Growth is cellular, involving quantifiable physical changes like size.
• Development is organizational, involving qualitative changes in structure.
• Human children grow and develop significantly from birth to approximately 18 years.

Nature vs Nurture

• The nature vs. nurture debate explores the impact of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) on human development.
• Nature refers to inherited traits such as eye color, height, and personality from DNA.
• Nurture includes environmental factors like upbringing, social interactions, and culture, influencing behavior and habits.
• Some psychologists believe genes are more influential, while others emphasize the environment, but both interact.
• Nativism argues genetics determine behaviors, while tabula rasa suggests minds start as blank slates shaped by experience.
• Empiricists and behaviorists state that behavior results from learning through conditioning.
• Modern views recognize that both nature and nurture influence development and genetic expression.

Principles of Growth and Development

• Development is influenced by both heredity (nature) and environment (nurture).
• Nature (heredity) influences physical characteristics such as hair color and height.
• Nurture (environment) influences behavior, skills, and physical growth.
• Growth and development are continuous processes and later skills build on earlier ones.
• There is a similar pattern for most children with one development stage laying the foundation for the next.
• Development proceeds from head to toe, known as the cephalocaudal principle .
• Development goes from the center of the body outward (proximodistal), ex. the spinal cord develops before the hands.
• Development depends on maturation, biological growth, and learning.

Development

• Maturation is similar to a built-in schedule for growth, is also needed.
• Development proceeds from simple to complex using thinking and language skills.
• Cognitive skills development requires learning simple things before complex ideas.
• Development proceeds from general to specific, with initial movements being broad before becoming more precise.
• Individual rates of growth and development exists and each child is unique.

Periods of Development

• Development stages range from birth to old age, including prenatal, infancy, babyhood, early childhood, late childhood, preadolescence, adolescence, adulthood and old age.

Prenatal Stage

• The prenatal stage lasts 270-280 days, approximately nine months, and is divided into the germinal, embryonic, and fetal stages.

Germinal Stage

• The germinal stage begins with sperm and egg uniting to form a zygote.
• The zygote divides rapidly within 36 hours after fertilization and travels to the uterus for implantation.

Embryonic Stage

• The implanted zygote is now called an embryo.
• The umbilical cord connects the embryo to the placenta, is formed providing nutrients.
• During the 8th week, basic structures form this is when major birth defects are likely.

Fetal Stage

• The embryo is now called a fetus and the bones stating to develop.
• By 3 months, the fetus moves limbs, opens its mouth, and "breathes".
• By 5 months, the fetus is one foot long and weighs one pound.
• By 7 months, all major organs are functional, and the fetus weighs 2 pounds.
• The fetus gains weight during the last two months growing and being able to lift its head.

Infancy Stage

• Infancy lasts from birth to two weeks and babies at this stage need a lot of care.
• The Patinate Period is right after birth until the umbilical cord is cut.
• Neonate Period is after umbilical cord and ends after 2 weeks.
• Newborns sleep, show drowse, cry, or startled easily.
• They are sensitive to light, blurry, cooing, and babbling.

Babyhood Stage

• Babyhood lasts from the second week to the second year and babies become more independent, can do things on their own.
• This is when babies start developing hunger and sleep routines.
• Babies communicate via crying or cooing.
• Babies establish bonds with parents and siblings.
• Emotion develops with anger, curiosity, joy, and babies can form friendships.
• Behaviors at this stage are non-moral and follow adults.

Early Childhood Stage

• Early Childhood's spans ages 2-6, referred to as the "toy age" or "preschool age".
• Basic independence in the bathroom and dressing up are being developed.
• Talking develops at this age too.
• The two thinking stages are, Preconceptual stage (2–4 years old):Egocentrism and Animism.
• The next stage is, Intuitive stage (4–6 years old):Centration and Irreversibility.
• Kids learn from people close to them, relationships are very important.
• Learning comes easily with play.
• Speech helps children learn more easily.

Late Childhood Stage

• Late childhood at ages 6 to 12 children learn to read and write.
• Physical growth slows down but mental grows quickly.
• Relationship with people help kids develop socially.
• Adults can encourage this with respect and teaching values.
• At this point kids start to understand actions in a respectful manner.

Preadolescence or Puberty Stage

• Preadolescence or Puberty Stage generally spanning ages 10 to 14.
• Its a cross over from childhood to puberty.
• Change happens in the inside and outside of the body.
• Primary Changes happen with periods and wet dreams.
• Body starts to change too like, body hair in different places.

Adolescence Stage

• Adolescence Stage (Ages 13 or 14 to 18) growing into an adult not just physically.
• Teens start thinking how they will be.
• Their is a lot of storm and stress.
• Friends grow into maturity.
• Teens start wanting Independence.

Adulthood Stage

• Adulthood Stage (twenty to sixty-five years of life) challenges with love.
• Generativity happens with giving and achievement.
• Stress can happen a lot.
• People start valuing development.

Old Age

• Old age happens (sixty-five years of life) and often people slow down.
• Seniors start appreciating art and things more in daily life.
• Memory problems can be there, senility and health.
• Friends and family helps connect with relationships more and have emotional support.