Your Child's Development
Human development follows an orderly process but not a smooth one. ersonality is molded by both biological predispositions and by agents socialization. Child watchers find that managing the developing hild can be facilitated by knowing what to expect at different stages of development. We find the negative stage around two to three years, asing into a better adjusted stage at four and back to an off-and-on hyperenergy stage at seven. Individual sex differences are marked by age nine or ten.
Both good and bad habits begin early, many centering on eating, eeping, and toilet training. How these problems can be managed tes closely to the basic principles of learning. There are individual differences even in tbe motor skills-crawling, creeping, walking, ping, running, riding tricycles, and using the hands and fingers in dressing and undressing.
Emotional development follows a pattern from the general to the specific; from general excitement to the specifcs of fear, anger, jealousy. Sex play and sex questions develop gradually and precdictably. Annoyances, such as thumb-sucking, nail-biting, and sc times stuttering occur as if programmed. Relezsing energy thro the pleasant emotions comes gradually but less noticeably.
Language begins when meaning becomes attached to wo learning a language comes largely through iinitation. Understanl comes gradually as the child deals with concrete situations. So I ability in thinking, which is not unlike the problem-solving pro found in the adult.
General mental ability, mechanical ability, ability in music, various psychological characteristics conform to the same prine: of development as in the more noticeable physical traits. Cum schools are giving more attention, at least in theory, to problen school readiness, grade placement.and curriculum modification emphasize individual rate of development.
Interests at play are receiving attention in research centeriI need satisfaction at different development stages. Studies emph: how social behavior may be acquired indirectly through env mental influences. Values often develop in indirect ways and reI. identification and to social class neterminants.
At center stage in the growth of personality is the developj of self-confidence, which is understandable and to a large e: manageable as children follow an orderly sequence of developr Some children are more rapid in motor development and slow verbal development; others show the reverse. There is a wide ran individual differences in growing up.
