Child Development

Child development is the process of growth and change from conception to adolescence.

4 weeks - startled by loud noises.

6 weeks - can sustain eye contact.  Responds to family with a smile.

8 months - 'for me' mode of experiencing reality.  Can sit unsupported.  Prefers to be held by a family member.

12 months - Can begin learning through imitation.  Cries when left by main carer.

14 months - walks alone.

15 months - likes to please carers.

2 years:

• Has temper tantrums.
• Uses objects in an imaginative way. 
• Signs of embarrassment.
• Uses words to express themselves.
• Relates to members of own family.

• Uses language and have real conversations.
• Developing social skills.
• More autonomy from parents.
• Can use representations in play.

3 years: Limited understanding of time and number.

5 years: Can demonstrate inflicting emotions in expression and language.  Obeys adults.

6 years: Can provide practical care for animals and others.  Experiences guilt and shame.

• Represents a period of prolonged teenage turmoil.
• Teenagers often cited as having an inability to make rational decisions.
• In search of self.

Birth - 2 years old

• Characterised by failure to differentiate between self and surroundings.
• 4-8 months can pick up and shake a rattle but has no awareness of object permanence.
• 8-12 months achieves the desired effect through action.  Achieves object permanence.  Fails the A not B test.
• 18-24 months infants mental representation dominated over actions.  Can conceive an object as independent of the self.

2-7 years

• Able to see things from someone else's point of view.
• Unable to understand the world as they are intuitive and highly subjective.
• Fail to understand the underlying reality remains constant despite changes in appearance.
• Non-logical thinking
• Conservation experiment - don't understand the height, width, quantities etc.  Can't conserve liquid, number mass or length until 6/7 years old.

7-11 years

• Can solve problems in a principled way.  Pass conservation and  3 mountain tasks.
• Cannot handle imagined or hypothetical problems.
• Not good at tasks situated in reality.

12+ years

• Develop the ability to think about abstract concepts.