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Stages of Development: Infancy and Early

Childhood Written Assignment Unit 4

Anonymous

University of the People

EDUC 5410 CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Michelle Dolske

December 8th, 2021

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Introduction

Definitions of stages of development in infancy come from several sources. Theorists

such as Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky, Lawrence Kohlberg, and Erik Erikson have provided ways to
explain development, and valuable knowledge about the essence of development has been
provided by recent studies. Moreover, social institutions, traditions, and laws that make up a
community culturally describe the stages of childhood (“Stages of Growth Child Development”,
n.d.). This paper will emphasize the relevance of the developmental period to students' learning
and the implications for educational practices within these area (infancy, preschool and
elementary,) as well as the developmental stages such as physical, cognitive, social, and moral.

Infants 0-1 year Developmental stages

Physical According to Rycus and Hughes (1998). New born babies at this
stage have random, rough, clumsy, reflex movement and can react to
pain. At 3 months they can use their eyes to follow objects, use arm
to prop and have head up prone. At 5 months babies are able to roll
over, stretch their bodies, reach and grasp objects as well as transfer
the object from one hand to the other, sit well unsupported and rock
on stomach for amusement. At 7 months babies can support their
weight on the legs, push up head and torso from the floor, and raking
with hands. At 9 months they can crawl, start standing, get to and
from sitting and have eye and hand coordination. At 12 months
babies can walk about, throws and kick a ball, pat on images in
books, climb and ascend a stair and stacks 3 to 4 cubes
(Imgusmlestep, 2010).

Cognitive, Sensory-motor: Piaget claimed that at this stage baby explores

environment with hands or eyes to learn about it; learn through trial
and error repeats movements to master them, which also stimulates
brain cell development, “learn about the world through basic actions
such as sucking, grasping, looking, and listening” Piaget (as cited by
Cherry, 2020).
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Social Erikson contented that baby calms when parent comforts them,
responsive to social stimuli, socially interactive; plays games with
caretakers and have stranger anxiety (as cited by Psychology
Notes, 2015).

Moral Kohlberg asserted that babies have no idea of differentiating doing

the right thing and avoiding punishment (as cited by Psychology
Notes, 2015).

Implication for When someone expresses something for their benefit, babies have
educational the ability to realize and thus to create knowledge differently than
practices when they merely experience it. These signals lead babies to
understand that someone is telling them something when adults use
face-to - face touch, call a baby's name, and point to the baby's
advantage, and this knowledge will influence how and what they
learn

Preschool Developmental stages

Physical Children at this stage are physically active and find it difficult to sit
still for a long time, clumsy throwing balls, have refines complex
skills: such as hopping, jumping, climbing, running, ride “big
wheels” and tricycles. Improving fine motor skills and eye-hand
coordination: cut with scissors, draw shapes (Rycus and Hughes,
1998).

Cognitive, Preoperational stage; Piaget stated that at this stage children develop
symbolic thought, to convey ideas, the use of proper syntax and
grammar. Imagination and imagination are strong, but abstract
thoughts that are abstract are still challenging. Conservation is built
(as cited by Psychology Notes, 2015). “Vivid imaginations; some
difficulty separating fantasy from reality” (Rycus and Hughes,
1998).

Social Kohlberg asserted that preschoolers are either learning to initiate

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activities and carry out plans, or feeling bad about attempts to be

independent (as cited by Psychology Notes, 2015). Play: they are
cooperative, imaginative which may involve fantasy and imaginary
friends, takes turns in games and develops gross and fine motor
skills;

social skills; experiment with social roles; reduces fears (Rycus and
Hughes, 1998).

Moral Kohlberg contends that at this stage “interest shifts to rewards rather
than punishment-effort is made to secure greatest benefit for oneself”
(as cited by Psychology Notes, 2015).

Implication for National Academy of Sciences. (n.d.), stated that When someone
educational expresses something for their benefit, babies can realize and thus to
practices create knowledge differently than when they merely experience it.
These signals lead babies to understand that someone is telling them
something when adults use face-to-face touch, calls the baby's name,
and point to the baby's advantage and this knowledge will influence
how and what they learn. “Learning during this time period occurs
through interactions with others and through mimicking or modeling
the behaviors of playmates and adults” (Bastable and Myers, n.d.).

Elementary Developmental stages

Physical Rycus and Hughes (1998) stated that children at this stage use
physical activities to develop gross and fine motor skills Motor &
perceptual motor skills are better integrated like riding bicycle, ties
shoes, skips with alternating legs and have permanent teeth at age
11.

Cognitive, Concrete operational: Piaget “concept attached to concrete

situations. Time, space, and quantity are understood and can be
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applied, but not as independent concepts” (as cited by Psychology

Notes, 2015).

Social At this stage children begin understanding social roles; regards

them as inflexible; they can adapt behavior to fit different
situations; practices social roles, obey rules and understands the
concepts of ring and wrong (Rycus and Hughes, 1998).

Moral Kohlberg contented that children at this stage make effort to secure
approval and maintain friendly relations with others that is the good
boy/girl level (as cited by Psychology Notes, 2015).

Implications for For many children in third or fourth grade (age 8 or 9), widely
educational recognized changes in school performance begin. The skills
practices necessary for academic achievement are becoming more difficult.
Many students who meet the academic challenges successfully
during this time continue to do well, while those who fail to learn the
skills required will fall further behind in later grades (Stages of
Growth Child Development, n.d.). “Children at this developmental
level are motivated to learn because of their natural curiosity and
their desire to understand more about themselves, their bodies, their
world, and the influence that different things in the world have on
them”” (Bastable and Myers, n.d.).

Conclusion, stages of child development has been analyzed and the implications for
education are derived from what is learned about how children develop, but it should be stressed
that development is affected by experience, and education is a primary context of childhood.
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REFERENCE

Bastable, S. B., Myers, G. M. (n.d.). Developmental Stages of the Learner. Retrieved

from https://nursekey.com/developmental-stages-of-the-learner/

Cherry, K. (2020). The 4 Stages of Cognitive Development. Retrieved from

https://www.verywellmind.com/piagets-stages-of-cognitive-development-2795457

Imgusmlestep. (2010). Developmental Milestones. Retrieved from

http://imgusmlestep1.blogspot.com/2010/05/developmental-milestones.html

Psychology Notes. (2015). Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development. Retrieved from

https://www.psychologynoteshq.com/kohlbergstheory/

National Academy of Sciences. (n.d.). Child Development and Early Learning. Retrieved from

https://www.nap.edu/read/19401/chapter/8#87

Rycus, J. S., and & Hughes, R. C. (1998). Developmental milestones stages. Retrieved from

https://www.rsd.k12.pa.us/Downloads/Development_Chart_for_Booklet.pdf Stages of

Growth Child Development (n.d.). Early Childhood (Birth to Eight Years), Middle

Childhood (Eight to Twelve Years). Retrieved from

https://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1826/Child-Development-Stages

Growth.html#ixzz6ZT0TYbwe
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