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Welcome to the Child Development Website
The Child Development website offers a tutorial on the classic theories
of child development as conceived by Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, and Margaret Mahler.
In addition, we offer hundreds of informative articles about parenting babies, toddlers, and young children.
Please visit often and share this resource with others who might enjoy it!
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Baby Girl Shower Invitations
Baby girl shower invitations basic theme is the welcoming of baby girls into the fold of a family. Baby showers celebrate the arrival of a baby/babies into this world. Actually, a baby born into a family ensures the continuity of the family lineage....
Baby Shower for Twins (Or More) Peas in a Pod
Baby shower for twins or multiples can be given when the mother-to-be is expecting twins or more. Having twins is twice as nice. But it’s also twice as much work and twice as expensive. Fortunately for Moms expecting twins or multiples, there is...
Baby's First Month at a Glance
Congratulations on your new baby! You have just brought your
baby home and are pretty excited about everything. Perhaps
you don't even mind the fact that getting a good night's
sleep is getting tougher by the day.
Getting into a routine
This...
The Great Baby Name Debate
Winifred or Willow? Thomas or Troy? The name you choose for your child will last a lifetime. Whether you’re looking for something original that will stand out from the crowd or a traditional name that people will instantly recognize, choosing a...
The Personality of a Typical Libra Baby
Your Libra Baby.. September 23 - October 22 Libras can be really beautiful babies. Personality wise, your Libra baby will not like to be hurried and will hate having to choose between two things. Libra children often seem older than their years...
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Your Beautiful Baby--Understanding Early Childhood Development
Your car came with one. Your TV has one. Even your cell phone has one. . . but when you have a little bundle of joy entering your life, an instruction manual does not come with the delivery. Children are a special gift--full of love, adventure, hope and joy.
Learning about the developmental stages of children and what can be expected in each stage is vitally important to all parents. Since each baby is a unique individual with a distinctive personality, your child's development may vary significantly from what is considered normal. But there are some guidelines and certain behaviors that are fairly typical of all children.
The primary task of a baby's first year is to develop a sense of trust in the world and come to view it as a place that is predictable and reliable. Infants accomplish this by forming a close attachment to the care givers. During the very earliest months, infants have an inborn ability to "bond" to ensure their survival. They express it through sucking, feeding, smiling and cooing. Ideally, these behaviors stimulate a loving response from the parents (or caretakers) who give the baby the much needed and desired personal attention. These pleasant interactions and the consistent attention form the parent-child bond and lay the foundation for child's sense of trust.
During this period, a consistently comforting and nurturing environment makes a child feel secure. The most valuable thing you can do at this point in your child's life, is to show, through attention and affection, that you love your child and that your child can depend on you to be there. If you generally respond to your child's cries, he/she will learn trust. If you hug, caress and smile at your child, he/she will feel contentment.
Although the need for attachment continues for many years, the process of separation also begins during the first year of a child's life. A major milestone is reached when children learn to
separate from the parents by crawling and then by walking. Psychological separation begins as well: babies start, non-verbally, to express their own desires and opinions. Many child development experts view early childhood as a series of alternating attachment and separation phases that help to establish the child as an independent person who can relate happily to others.
Toddlers continue the attachment--separation cycle in more sophisticated ways during the second year. The "terrible twos" arrive with your child sometimes protesting violently when you must leave them. Anxiety about separating from you heightens, and they may express anger. During this stage, when you must both guide and protect your child,, you become a "no" sayer. Your child becomes frustrated and shows it in new ways. Helpless crying comes first, and later your child may exhibit aggressive behavior by hitting, pushing, biting or throwing things.
Such behavior often frightens and puzzles parents, who wonder if the child is normal. It should help you to know that this type of behavior is normal for toddlers, who have deep conflicting wishes about their individuality ("me do it myself"), and their anxiety about separating from you.
Handling the tantrums, setting limits, and encouraging language development and the expression of feelings consume much of your time and patience. They will grow out of these stages. Welcome to parenthood and best wishes on raising a healthy, happy, well-adjusted baby!
About the Author
Larry Denton is a retired history teacher having taught 33 years at Hobson High in Hobson, Montana. He is currently Vice President of Elfin Enterprises, Inc., an Internet business dedicated to providing useful information and valuable resources on a variety of timely topics. For a nursery full of information, resources and suggestions about child development, visit http://www.BabyByWay.com
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