There are three developmental stages in a child’s life and they will each be briefly discussed in this paper. All three developmental stages are very important in the growing process of a child. These three stages are cognitive development, psychosocial development and physical development.
One theory that I think best explains how children develop is the cognitive- developmental theory constructed Jean Piaget. According to Child and Adolescent Development, cognitive development changes in thinking, language, problem-solving, and intelligence in the ages of 2- 7. Piaget noted that there are four stages of cognitive development and they are sensor motor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. Piaget also explains these stages using adaptation, organization, scheme, assimilation, accommodation and equilibration. Adaptation is when a child conforms to the predispose conditions of their environment through assimilation and accommodation. Scheme is a structure of the mind of a child that shows patterns of their thinking and behavior towards objects and situations. Organization is a way for the child to organize his or her thoughts in order to be more coherent.
Accommodation is a process of which old ways of thinking no longer fit into a child’s world. Assimilation is a part of adaptation and is a process in which the child can interpret his or her experience in a way they can understand using a scheme. Equilibration is a process by which the child uses both accommodation and assimilation to balance and organize the things learn in their environment. The reason why I feel this best explains how children develop is because this theory explains children developing as a whole individual. Some theories explain how children are developing through action, play, observation, and learned behavior. But, they don’t incorporate how children think and feel. The cognitive- developmental theory shows all of that in a process that gives insight into developing children and their world.
In psychosocial development, personality changes interaction with the social environment develops, and understanding how one feels occurs. Infants become attached to those who respond consistently and appropriately to their signaling behaviors. Most infants raised in a stable environment show signs of a healthy attachment. An important aspect in these types of relationships well the caregiver cares for the child. For example, as a parent to my nieces and nephews, I always try to convey a supportive role of being loved and nurtured by spending time with them, taking them out to places, helping them with their homework, and reading to and with them. Failure to develop a secure attachment will affect the child later in life by wanting to be distant, having a
