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Chapter 1 Learning About Children 9
Figure 1.2
Child Development Stages
Prenatal
Begins at conception and ends about 9 months later at birth. The rate of
growth at this stage is the fastest it will be in life. In this stage, a child grows
from a single cell to a complete organism. Even before birth, babies can
move, recognize the mother’s voice patterns, and react to some strong
stimuli.
Neonatal
Extends from birth to 1 month. During this period, the baby physically adapts
to life outside the mother’s body.
Begins at 1 month and continues to 12 months. The infant develops the
foundation for motor, thinking, language, and social skills.
Infancy
Preschool
Begins at 3 years and ends at 6 years. During this stage, the child becomes
more self-sufficient, spends many hours in play exploring the physical and
social world, and begins to develop knowledge of self.
School-age (middle childhood)
Begins at 6 years and ends at 12 years. This stage corresponds to the typical
ages of children in the elementary school years. Achievement is the central goal
of these years. School-age children master the basics of reading, writing, and
arithmetic. They are exposed to many other learning opportunities, too. In school,
children interact with peers more and learn by group instruction. This makes it
important for them to learn self-control. Before the end of this stage, children have
rather stable feelings about self and know how others feel about them.
Begins at 12 months and ends at 36 months (the child’s third birthday).
In the toddler stage, the child makes great strides in motor, thinking, and
language skills and begins to test his or her dependence on adults.
Toddler