STAGES OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT

 MAJOR STAGES IN DEVELOPMENT

Man is being who is constantly developing in his life time. This development of his passes through various stages. Having passed through these steps, an immature and erring child develops into the properly developed and matured adult .Although there is some difference of opinion among thinkers regarding the various steps in development ,yet generally human development has been divided into the following four stages-

1.Infancy

2.Childhood

3.Adolescence

4.Adulthood

These above mentioned four stages in the development of the human child were determined by Rousseau, the French philosopher. Establishing the age levels that correspond to this division, the educational psychologists have pointed out that infancy lasts from birth till six years, childhood from six to twelve, adolescence from twelve to eighteen while adulthood should be accepted to extend from eighteen till the individual ceases to develop. It is the common belief among modern educational psychologists that by the age of twenty the individual usually completes all kind of development. According to Dr. john, before adolescence or by the age of twelve the child attains to a kind of pseudo-maturity. Following this infancy and childhood are reflected in adolescence and adulthood. According to modern psychologists, the most rapid development in the child takes place in two stages, the first time when the infant is about two, and the second time when he is between ten and twelve years of age. It will be necessary to reflect upon these above steps in development from the standpoint of physiological development. It should be remembered that though all children pass through these various stages of development ,yet all do not go through them at the  same age. The female child , for example, generally reaches each one of these stages some two years ahead of the male . Nevertheless,  generally speaking the physiological development that takes in the different stages can be seen in all children.

MAJOR ASPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT

As a general rule, the development of  the individual in each step can be divided in the following aspects:

1.Physical development

2.Mental development 

3.Emotional development

4.Ethical and Aesthetic development

5.Social development

The physical  development of the individual includes the development of his various physical parts, his height, weight , nervous system , internal organs ,lungs , heart ,etc. His mental development includes the progress of his intelligence ,special abilities , capabilities, tendencies ,imagination ,reasoning ,and other mental elements. In emotional development , the evolution of different instincts and emotions leads to the formation of sentiments and the progress of sentiments to character. Moral development includes the evolution of  the moral character, and aesthetic sense and artistic tendencies. In his social development, the individual learns to move and live according to the rules of his family, groups and society, and to adjust to it. Educational psychology studies all these aspects of the development of infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood. The development of the aspects will be the subject of reflection in the succeeding chapters.

A discussion of the various stages and aspects of development makes it evident that human development is not linear ,but spiral. In other words, in progressing further it turns back and as well as vertically.

Educational Aspect of Development

Knowledge of the various stages and aspects of the educand's development is of much value for the teacher. The object of education is the complete development of the educand. Hence , it is evident that the teacher should be possessed of the knowledge of aspects of development so that he may be able to discern whether the student is lagging behind in any  aspect. The curriculum and other programmes in school should be designed to expedite the over all progress of the educand. where the curriculum does not seem likely to succeed. In examining the student, it should be kept in mind that all his various aspects are being evaluated.

Modern education is based on the psychology of the educand. And  the educand's psychology confroms to the stage of his development . Hence  by knowing the stage of development through which an individual student is passing the teacher can known his psychology, can base hopes of his development and progress in various department accordingly, and can should his method of teaching accordingly. Having a knowledge of the various aspects and steps of development, the teacher can from a dymaic attitude towards education and the educand.

PHYSICAL DEVELOMENT DURING INFANCY

Two stages

Infancy is divided into two stages of development , the first lasting from birth to three years, thereafter the second stage lasts till child is six year of age.

Rapid growth in first year

The child develops very rapidly in the infant stage. At birth ,the child is bodily unattractive because the skill is skin is lined, the face puffed up and red, the size of the head approximately one fourth of the body and the rest of the body unbalanced. When born the child is about twenty inches in height , but grows another 10 inches before its first year is completed .Generally the child is between seven and seven and a half pounds in weight, the male child being taller and heavier than the female. In the first year, both weight and size increase at a very rapid pace. Height increases about 50 percent in this period while the weight doubles in six months and trebles in another six. The proportion of the head to the body also changes, being one fourth at the time of birth, the head becomes one eight of it as develops. In the process of development , the head becomes one eighth of the body , the length of arms and legs also increase as child comes to require them more and more in his adaptation to life outside the womb. 

1.Growth of brain 

2.Increase in height

3.Growth in weight

4.Change in proportion

5.Development of internal organs

Important Fact About Development in Infancy

1.Food

2.cleanliness

3.clothes

4.Sleep

5.feeding

6.Child care

7.Mother's love

8.Mother's care

9.Avoidance of indulgence

10.No physical strain

Infancy Prior to childhood 

STAGES OF MOTOR DEVELOPMENT DURING INFANCY

Age in moths                                                                  Motor Activity

1.                                                                                     chin high

2.                                                                                     raising the chest

3.                                                                                     gripping and releasing object

4.                                                                                     sitting with some assistance

5.                                                                                     lap-sitting and holding objects

6.                                                                                     sitting on high chair

7.                                                                                     playing with object 

8.                                                                                     standing with some help

9.                                                                                     standing while holding on to furniture

10.                                                                                   moving on knees

11.                                                                                   raising oneself while holding on to furniture

12.                                                                                   walking while holding someone

13.                                                                                   climbing stairs

14.                                                                                 standing without assistance

15.                                                                                 walking alone

PATTERNS OF CRAWLING AND CREEPING

The beginning of a infants motors development is with the activities of creeping and crawling. Different infants exhibit different patterns of these activities. Various physical positions are adopted by the infant in developing from the crawling and creeping to the walking stage .These physical positions are:

1.Motion of new born's crawling.

2.Less motion in the hand part while it tries to raise the head

3.Control on the movements of head and shoulders improves.

4.There is considerable development in the upper part, while the hip remains on the floor.

5.Contraction between the motion of the head shoulder, and the hips, with the result that raising of hips leads to lowering of head shoulder.

6.Motions of rocking in which the hip bone is kept above the ground.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDHOOD

Physical and other development in the child that takes place between the ages of six and twelve is in childhood period.

a)Period of growth

b)period of maturity

IMPORTANT FACTORS IN MOTOR DEVELOPMENT

Important Points in the teaching of Motor Activity

1.knowledge of effective methods

2.Encouraging the use of effective techniques

3.Minimum Possible destructive criticism

4.Stress on the right activities

5.Stress on speed and exactness for skillful working

6.Proper and adequate practice

7.Practice with an aim

Teaching Motor Activity in school  

DEVELOPMENT OF MANUAL SKILL

Manual skill means proficiency in different type of activities which require the use of hand.

LEARING MANUAL SKILLS

1.Throwing the ball

2.Catching the ball

3.Eating and drinking

4.Putting on and taking off clothes

5.Writing