|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Little Girl With A Big Question
A few nights back, I was enjoying the nightly ritual of combing out my daughter's long hair after her bath. She always engages me in thought-provoking conversations during this time. It's become a special bonding session for us each evening, even if...
The Chinese Year of the Dragon
The Chinese Year Of The Dragon.. If the dragon is your Chinese year sign or the Chinese sign of your child, you'll be glad to know that dragons are often good humoured and excellent company. They tend to see the larger picture and have a dislike...
Why Child Bearing Is Healthy
From a purely biological perspective, bearing children can be considered the most important reason for a woman's existence. For that matter, the same could be said about men, since both sexes are, in effect, disposable packages of genetic material....
Why Pregnant Women Get Stressed And Depressed?
If you are a pregnant mother or soon will be, this is the most important reality you going to face. You will get stress and depress. Why? The physical and mental changes of a pregnant woman can affect her stress levels-especially since she is forced...
Yoga For Pregnant Women
Master your mind!
Gain control over your body!
Be relieved of your stress through the practice of gentle art of Yoga! Pregnancy is a physical as well as mental experience. Women often becomes hyper aware of all the changes their bodies are going...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|