Chapter 1 Learning About You 13
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Childhood
Childhood is the stage of growth from
birth to adolescence. A great deal of growth
and development happens during this
stage. Babies learn to sit, crawl, walk, and
talk. Later, children learn to play with
other children and share their toys. An
important goal of childhood is for children
to learn to talk and use language to
express their ideas, opinions, and desires.
They begin developing ideas about what
is right and what is wrong. They also start
learning about their emotions and how
to deal with them. These are just some of
the goals of growth during early childhood.
Learning how to read and write, and
learning to accept responsibilities at home
and school are also goals. See 1-5.
Beginning to develop independence is
another goal of childhood.
Independence
is the freedom to decide, act, and care for
yourself. For instance, babies depend on others to meet all their needs. Others
must feed, dress, and try to soothe them when they are upset. As children
grow, they learn how to perform many tasks for themselves. They learn to
become more independent. This prepares them for adolescence and adulthood.
Reading
Review
1. What are some important goals of
development in childhood?
2. How do children begin to show their
independence? Give examples.
Adolescence
Adolescence
is the stage of growth
between childhood and adulthood. People
in this stage of growth are called adolescents.
Adolescence begins when a person’s body
starts to develop into an adult size and shape
and becomes capable of reproductive
abilities. This transition is called puberty.
During adolescence, many changes
occur. Adolescents are more aware of
Learning to read independently is an
important goal of childhood.
1-5
Volunteer to Plant a Tree
You can improve your environment
simply by planting a tree. In addition to
making an area look nice, trees produce
oxygen. Trees also help clean the air by
reducing the amount of air pollution. They
can even make some of the air pollutants
less harmful. Check for organizations
in your community that plant trees and
spend some time volunteering.
Think Green Think Green