Stages of child development
The major stages of child development are:
i ) Infancy: This is a period from birth to a year of life. The child is expected to be able to suck well, eat cereals from 4 – 6 months, sit and later crawl, grow a few milk teeth and increase in height and weight.
ii) Early childhood/toddler (1 – 3 years). The child should be able to walk, eat better, see and recognise member of his or her family and increase in height and weight
iii) Pre – School age (4 – 5 ). The child starts school. He/ she walks well, knows when and where to use the toilets and talks better
iv) School age (childhood 6 – 12 years): The child starts and completes primary school. The milk teeth are replaced with permanent teeth. The child also:
- Increases his or her vocabulary
- grows taller
v) Adolescence (13 – 19 ) : The child is becoming an adult. This stage begins at thirteen years and ends at nineteen years. The boy and girl look like adults.
They have all the features of adults. Some may be taller than their parents. There is increase in height and weight. Some girls show signs of puberty like breast enlargement and may reach menarche (i.e. first menstrual flow).
Home-work: Mention the changes that occur in a school – age child.