What is child development Development is the gradual

What is child development?

Development is the gradual process through which babies become adults. The process has many stages, such as infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

Child development is the scientific study of children from conception to adolescence. • • • Child development focuses on changes that occur in children over time. This includes how children’s bodies change and how children think and learn. It also focuses on how children feel about themselves and how they interact with others.

Individual life cycle • The stages of change that a person experiences throughout life. • These stages were chosen based on changes in growth and behavior that occur around certain ages. • These provide a basic idea of when stages may begin and end since everyone develops at his/her own rate.

Prenatal stage • This stage begins at conception and ends about nine months later at birth. • This stage is the fastest rate of growth. • A child grows from a single cell to a complete organism (human being).

Neonatal stage • This stage extends from birth through the second week. • During this period, the baby physically adapts to life outside of the mother’s womb.

The infancy stage • This stage begins at two weeks and continues through the first birthday (12 months). • The infant develops the foundation for motor, thinking, language, and social skills.

Toddler stage • This stage begins at 12 months and ends at 36 months (3 years). • The toddler makes great gains in motor, thinking, and language skills, and begins to test his/her dependence on adults.

Preschool stage • This stage begins at three years and ends at the sixth birthday. • The preschool child becomes more selfsufficient, spends many hours in play and exploration of the world around them. • They develop a fairly stable self-concept.

School-age stage or middle childhood • This stage begins at 6 years and ends at 12 years. • School-age children have many academic achievements. • They master the basics of reading, writing, and math. • They interact with peers more and may follow the group. • It is important to use self-control and choose good friends.