Early Childhood Development

Early Childhood

• Growth in Early Childhood: rapid growth and development, especially in brain maturation
• Nutrition: essential for growth and development
• Brain Maturation: rapid growth and development, especially in the first few years
• Motor Skill Development: progresses rapidly in early childhood, with milestones such as crawling, walking, and talking
• Toilet Training: typically occurs between 18 months to 3 years old
• Sexual Development: starts to emerge in early childhood, with children exhibiting exploratory behavior

Cognitive Development

• Piaget's Preoperational Stage (2-7): children begin to use symbols and language, but still lack logical thinking
• Zone of Proximal Development and Scaffolding: children learn with guidance and support from adults

Sociocognitive Development

• Self-Concept: children start to develop a sense of self, with a growing awareness of their own thoughts and feelings
• Self-Esteem: begins to emerge in early childhood, with children comparing themselves to others
• Symbolic Interactionism (George Mead): children learn to take on different roles and perspectives
• Self-Control: children start to develop self-control, with the ability to regulate their emotions and behavior

Psychosocial Development

• Erikson's Psychosocial Stage: Trust vs. Mistrust (0-1 year), Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1-3 years)
• Play Age (Erik Erikson): children engage in imaginative play, with a focus on exploration and discovery

Family Life

• Parenting Styles: Permissive, Authoritative, Neglectful, and Authoritarian
• Adler's Birth Order: firstborn, middle-born, and last-born children have different personality traits and characteristics

Middle and Late Childhood

Physical Growth

• Growth slows down, with a focus on refinement and coordination
• Brain Growth: continues to develop and mature

Cognitive Development

• Piaget's Concrete Operational Stage: children develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Information Processing: children show improvements in attention, memory, and processing speed

Language Development

• Middle Childhood: language skills become more complex and nuanced
• Bilingualism: children can learn multiple languages simultaneously

Theories of Intelligence

• General Intelligence Factor: a general factor of intelligence that encompasses various cognitive abilities
• Specific Intelligence: specific cognitive abilities, such as verbal comprehension and spatial reasoning
• Sternberg's Triarchic Theory: three components of intelligence: analytical, creative, and practical

Friendship and Peer Relationships

• Conceptualization of Friendship (Selman, 1980): five stages of friendship, from egocentric to mutually intimate
• Bullying: a negative aspect of peer relationships, with long-term consequences for victims and perpetrators

Family Life

• Beger's Family Tasks: five tasks that families must accomplish to be successful
• Lesbian and Gay Parents: face unique challenges and biases
• Divorce: can have long-term effects on children, including increased risk of adjustment problems

Adolescence

• Growth in Adolescence: rapid physical growth and development, especially in puberty
• Hormones: play a crucial role in physical development during adolescence
• Sexual Development: puberty brings rapid sexual development and maturity

Cognitive Development

• Adolescent Brain: undergoes significant changes, with improved problem-solving skills and decision-making
• Egocentrism: adolescents are self-focused, with a tendency to overestimate their own abilities
• Imaginary Audience: adolescents are highly concerned with what others think of them

Psychosocial Development

• Adolescent Influencers: parents, peers, and media play a significant role in shaping adolescent attitudes and behaviors
• Peers: peer relationships become increasingly important during adolescence
• Romantic Relationships: emerge during adolescence, with a focus on emotional intimacy and commitment
• Social Media: has both positive and negative influences on adolescent development

Adulthood and Old Age

Adulthood

• Subdivisions of Adulthood: young adulthood, middle age, and old age
• Characteristics of Adulthood: independence, responsibility, and self-awareness

Physical Changes

• Health Problems (Old Age): physical decline, with an increased risk of chronic diseases

Theories of Development

• Levinson's Theory of Seasons of Life: five stages of adult development, from exploration to retirement
• Erikson's Psychosocial Stage: young adulthood, adulthood, and old age

Attitude towards Aging

• Empty Nest Syndrome: parents experience emotional adjustments when children leave home
• Fear of Growing Old: a common anxiety in adulthood
• Ageism: negative stereotypes and biases towards older adults

Changes in Life Situations

• Changes in Sexual Activity: decrease with age, but remain important for emotional and physical well-being

Changes in Mental Functioning

• Senile Dementia (Alzheimer's Disease): a degenerative brain disorder, with significant cognitive decline

Death and Dying

• Thanatology: the study of death and dying
• 5 Stages of Psychological Adjustment to Death: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance