The procedure of physical, psychological and mental changes that occur in a child as he ages is referred to as child development. There is extensive research and consistent development by psychological and medical professionals on the subject. Although child development is not a precise science as children grow at varying rates, it can serve as a guideline for average developmental steps. The research of child development is generally restricted to topics from infancy to late adolescence. Tremendous physical changes occur during the transition from infancy to adulthood as a child may grow to more than five times its original height and more than 20 times his or her birth weight, although almost entirely helpless at birth.
Comprehending the rate, level and order of changes in the physical differences that happen from infancy to adolescence are the primary focus of some childhood development studies. This includes the study of weight and height changes along with musculature changes and sexual development. Understanding ailments and injuries along with their causes and any potential cures that can affect development, is the study of physical development.
A child goes through many different kinds of stages from birth to adolescence; intellectual, normal, and social-emotional. Early childhood, age group, adolescence and middle childhood are the dividing stages. Researchers have found that although the limits of these stages change, there are new understandings to the development of children as the times change.
1. The Three Expansive Stages of Child Development – Physical
Early Childhood – birth to 8 years
In all areas of physical and mental development, this is the fast-paced stage. Physically children double their height and quadruple their weight from birth to 3 years. The proportions of the body also change as he becomes a toddler, whereas the infant’s head takes up a quarter of the total length of the body, it becomes proportionate with his body. They look like little adults at 3-8.
Middle Childhood – from 8 to 12 years
Between the ages of 8-11, physical growth steadies and slows, but new body changes will occur at the onset of puberty. The start of puberty differs with each individual, as some start as early as 9 while others as late as 12. Boys tend to develop layer than girls.
Adolescence – 12 to 18 years
Another period of rapid growth occurs when a child can grow between 4 to 7 inches in height and about ten pounds per year. Hormonal growth characterizes this fast growth during these years. Adolescent is almost non-existent in some cultures, and if it does, it’s for a short period of time as it corresponds with the custom of becoming mature adults at an early age. In a few cultures there is no time to be an adolescent as females are married by age 15 and become instant adults.
2. The Social-Emotional Stage of Child Development
Early Childhood
A child’s social-emotional development is mainly influenced by the immediate family circle during the first year. Between 1-3 years, a child already acknowledges other people’s presence around him. There is some interaction, and expression of needs. Children are more improved at expressing their feelings from 5 to 8 years, and now start demanding attention. The big problem for parents is when the tantrums begin.
Middle Childhood
A child is more socially and emotionally developed between ages 8 to 12. This is due to the fact that they are more exposed to the outside world through school. This is when they learn to get emotionally involved with people other than their families and to make friends.
Adolescence
This is the most crucial time for emotional and social development for every child. Peer pressure and emotional involvement with the opposite sex burdens them at this stage. As they try to create identities of their own, they do not communicate much with their families. Parents find this to be a most frustrating time.
3. Stages of Child Development in the Intellectual Aspect
Early Childhood
In every child’s life this stage is intellectually very important as this is the sponge period and is the time when they will learn about everything the world can give them.
Middle Childhood
A child learns a lot during this period of his educational and intellectual development.
Adolescence
By this time a child has learnt most things he needs to learn and he only needs to implement what he has learnt.
There are many other areas of mental and medical health research associated with the study of child development. A variety issues can affect developmental such as; chemical imbalances in the brain, birth trauma, genetic disposition, childhood illness, injury, and mental or trauma in childhood. Child development researchers may have varied medical and mental health backgrounds to enable them to specialize in the treatment or research of any particular set of these widespread issues.
Parents should become familiar with childhood development materials in order to get a sense of their child’s developmental path. But it should be remembered that few children match the average scale of development whether physical, psychological or mental, exactly. Developmental disability can be identified early when one understands the basic age ranges for development.