Child Development
Child
development
From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Child development entails
the biological, psychological and emotional changes that occur in
human beings between birth and the conclusion of adolescence,
as the individual progresses from dependency to increasing autonomy.
It is a continuous process with a predictable sequence, yet having a unique
course for every child. It does not progress at the same rate and each stage is
affected by the preceding developmental experiences. Because these
developmental changes may be strongly influenced by genetic factors and events
during prenatal life, genetics and prenatal development are usually included as
part of the study of child development. Related terms include developmental
psychology, referring to
development throughout the lifespan, and pediatrics,
the branch of medicine relating to the care of children. Developmental change
may occur as a result of genetically-controlled processes known as maturation,[1] or as a result of environmental factors
and learning, but most commonly involves an interaction between the two. It may
also occur as a result of human nature and our ability to learn from our
environment.
There are various definitions of periods in a child's
development, since each period is a continuum with individual differences
regarding start and ending. Some age-related development periods and examples
of defined intervals are: newborn (ages
0–4 weeks); infant (ages
4 weeks – 1 year); toddler (ages
1–3 years); preschooler (ages
4–6 years); school-aged child (ages 6–11 years); adolescent (ages
12–19).[2]
Promoting child development through parental training, among
other factors, promotes excellent rates of child development.[3] Parents play a large role in a child's
life, socialization, and development. Having multiple parents can add stability
to the child's life and therefore encourage healthy development.[4] Another influential factor in a child's
development is the quality of their care. Child care programs
present a critical opportunity for the promotion of child development.
The optimal development of children is considered vital to
society and so it is important to understand the social, cognitive, emotional,
and educational development of children. Increased research and interest in
this field has resulted in new theories and strategies, with specific regard to
practice that promotes development within the school system. There are also
some theories that seek to describe a sequence of states that compose child
development.
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