Introduction

The complex procedure of child development starts in the womb and lasts till maturity. From
complete dependency to complete freedom, it's a process. It includes social, emotional,
linguistic, and intellectual development in addition to physical progress.

A child's developmental phases include newborn, infancy, toddlerhood, preschool, middle

childhood, and adolescence.

After birth, the infant continues to grow and develop. Language, cognition, fine and gross
motor skills, and social-emotional behaviour are the core areas of development.
It is evaluated by rolling over at six months, crawling by nine months, executing simple tasks
by twelve months, walking and speaking words by fifteen months, although
duplicating a picture by three years etc
Factors influencing the development of the healthy child
Prenatal and genetics influences - Genes influence the majority of your child's physical
attributes, including height, weight, and more. Furthermore, a number of illnesses and
ailments, including diabetes, heart disease, and others, may be inherited by your child and
impact their development and growth.

Environment - Strong social and interpersonal skills are developed in children in a calm,
loving home and school setting, but infections or contaminants in food or water can stunt
growth, result in physical deformities, and impair immunity.

Nutrition - Ensure that your child consumes a well-balanced diet that is high in proteins,
carbs, fats, vitamins, and minerals. The body's and the brain's development depend on them.

Education - They should be able to study in ways that are both enjoyable and mentally
nourishing. Consider how reading a good book for enjoyment, learning a new language, or
using educational toys will significantly impact the development and growth of the child

Socio economic factors - The standard of the possibilities your child receives is determined
on the status of your family. The child's basic needs may not be met due to disparities in
wealth and poverty.

Secure attachment - A children's growth will be positively impacted by a good relationship

between them and their caregiver in which the youngster feels loved, cared for, safe,
protected, comfortable, and appreciated.Social relationship
Parenting style
Cognitive development
Moral development
Physical development

Formation of life
A child's life is shaped by their physical development along with their social, emotional,
cognitive, thinking, and communication abilities. Each of these developmental domains is
interdependent and impacts the others.

 Prenatal development - The growth and development of an embryo and fetus from
conception until delivery is known as prenatal development. It is beneficial to
comprehend and evaluate the ways in which very early factors (such as maternal drug
use or hereditary illnesses) might affect a child's development.
 Cognitive development - It is the method by children picks up knowledge, think about
it, and apply it to comprehend the world. It encompasses the improvement of abilities
like as memory, critical thinking, and problem solving.
 Early experiences - A child's early years are crucial for their development and have a
big influence that lays the groundwork for their future social connections and social
engagement. A child's development can be adversely affected by trauma, neglect, and
abuse, while a stable, healthy connection can have a positive impact.
 Emotional development - The process of children’s learning to identify, communicate,
and control emotions are studies here. Beginning in infancy and continuing until
age, although people who were emotionally suppressed more likely to grow up in a
disrupted environment.
 Language development - It is an essential tool that helps kids learns to talk and
interact with others by applying signs or language. It includes developing vocabulary,
understanding speech patterns, and using language fluently.
PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT
In humans, the zygote's journey in the womb, this includes the time from embryo creation to
foetus development to birth in a sequence of phases.

The fetus continues to grow, gain weight, and get ready for life outside the womb throughout
the seven months leading up to delivery. This progression conclude with the delivery of the
baby.

 Germinal stage –
1) The single-celled zygote starts its journey to the uterus via the fallopian tube within
a few hours after fertilization.
2) About 24 to 36 hours after conception, cell division starts. The zygote initially
splits into two, four, eight, sixteen, and so on cells during the mitotic phase before
moving from the fallopian tube to the wall of the uterus.
3) The inner cells create the embryo, while the outside cells eventually develop into
the placenta.
4) A blastocyst is the result of the cells' development. The procedure by which it
reaches the uterus and adheres to the uterine wall is called implantation. Tiny blood
arteries are ruptured by cells that snuggle within the uterine lining.

 Embryonic stage-
1) The embryonic phase begins at the start of the third week following fertilization.
2) Later, the neural tube gives rise to the brain and spinal cord, which make up the
central nervous system.
3) The head starts to take shape about the fourth week, and the eyes, nose, ears, and
mouth follow shortly after.
4) The embryo has all of its main organs and components by the eighth week of
development, with the exception of the sex organs. The embryo is currently just one
gram in weight and one inch length.

 Fetal stage –
1) This developmental stage lasts from the ninth week till delivery.
2) The sex organs start changing as well. despite the fact that every bodily component
will develop.
3) The fetus keeps getting longer and heavier.
4) The fetus exhibits reflexive movements.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
The progressive growth of a child's brain and body, as well as their motor skills, muscular
strength, and general physical well-being, is referred to as physical development. Beginning
at birth, this development lasts throughout the early years of life. It is impacted by both
ambient events and genetic variables.

 Brain development –

 A newborn's brain weighs around 25% of its adult weight throughout the first few
years of life, and by the time they are five years old, that weight has increased to 90%.
  More than a million new synaptic connections are being formed every second by a
baby's active brain. Movement, language, and problem-solving are all made possible
by these relationships.

 The foundation for future learning, health, and success in life may be laid during the
first eight years of brain development.

 Motor development -

 The process of learning to move and coordinate the body is known as motor
development.

 Both fine motor abilities, which employ tiny muscles, and gross motor skills, which
use vast muscles, are included.

 Babies begin to raise their heads and clasp their hands together during the first three
months of life. They can sit and roll over with assistance by the time they are six
months old. Before walking, usually between 7 and 10 months, they will either crawl
on their hands and knees or move by bottom shuffling. Preschoolers between the ages
of three and five can hop on one foot and catch a ball, while toddlers between the ages
of one and three will start to walk and climb stairs.

 Small actions, such as holding a pencil correctly, building tiny buildings out of
blocks, or clapping hands, are all part of fine motor abilities.

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
 Language is a valuable instrument for interpersonal communication, connection
building, and fostering a feeling of community. It is the expression of ideas.
 The formation of language begins with sounds and gestures, followed by words and
sentences, which together translate ideas into thoughts.
 Writing and signals are two ways that language may be expressed.
 Despite the fact that every baby is unique, it is crucial to track their language
development in relation to their life milestones and take appropriate action if they
experience any setbacks.

Some language milestones are followed by :

By 6 month - mostly via vocalizations, such as weeping, laughing, and cooing.

They respond to their familiar sounds by tilting their heads or making rambling facial
expressions.
By 6 to 9 month - start to babble,
when the volume of a child's voice increases.

By 9 to 18 month - This level is called One Word.

The two most typical first words are "mama" and "dada."
Recognizes basic phrases and instructions, such as "food bye" and "clap."
By 24 month - Two words can be combined by toddlers.
They are able to recognize familiar objects and interact with people.

By 24 to 30 month - They will be able to talk in three-word or longer sentences.

These little phrases will be devoid of grammar, verbs, and prepositions.
By 3 years - youngster will start creating longer, more intricate sentences as they continue to
pick up new vocabulary and improve their grammar.
has 900–1000 words in their vocabulary.
By 5 years - They ought to be able to converse and interact with others in a clear, fluid
manner.
Recognized common opposite
By 8 years - the capacity to reliably create every spoken sound.

They have to be proficient readers who can understand material at their grade level.

MAIN DEVELOPMENT THEORIES

 Cognitive development theory
The theory, which was put out by theorist Jean Piaget, concentrated on how people develop
their mental processes and how those processes affect our perceptions of and interactions
with the outside world.

From infancy until puberty, he postulated four successive phases of cognitive development,
each distinguished by unique thought patterns.

Although every kid goes through these phases, biological maturation and interactions with
the environment ultimately define a child's growth.

a) Sensorimotor stage -
The period from birth to age two.

Infants explore their senses and develop their motor abilities.

The youngster starts to be able to categorize, remember, and store knowledge about the
world.

During this time, growth can be aided by singing rhymes, clapping hands, and playing with a
ball.
b) Pre operational stage –
Around the ages of two and six

Toddlers learn to use language and mental images to internally describe the world.
Rather than using logical reasoning, thinking is impacted by how things seem to them.

Children don't understand conservation and are self-centered.

c) Concrete operational stage –

During the ages of seven to eleven

Children start to do mathematical processes and reason logically about physical occurrences.

Struggle to comprehend hypothetical or abstract ideas.

d) Formal Operational stage –

A time frame from the age of twelve to adulthood

Individuals acquire the capacity to think abstractly. This phase also sees the development of
abilities like systematic planning, deductive reasoning, and logical thinking.

 Sociocultural Theory

The hypothesis has its origins in the early 1900s study of Russian psychologist Lev
Vygotsky.

The main focus of sociocultural theory is how society and culture shape our growth, thoughts,
emotions, and behaviors.

This method aims to comprehend how these social elements interact with personal ones to
affect how individuals grow, learn, and develop.

Additionally, he said that children are born barefoot and learn via imitation and observation
(a process known as internalization), eventually developing their own ideas and beliefs as
they become older.

Some concepts in his theory include

1. Zone of proximal development (ZPD) - The gap between what a youngster (or a
novice) can do on their alone and what they can accomplish with the help and support
of an experienced partner.

2. Scaffolding - The concept of "scaffolding" describes the short-term assistance given

by a more experienced individual (such as a teacher or a peer) to help students do
activities they were unable to complete on their own. This assistance eventually ends
as the learner becomes competent.

Across a range of fields and age levels, this help can be given in a variety of methods,
including modeling, questioning, hints, or structured exercises.
 As an example, a teacher may divide a writing task into smaller portions and offer
advice at each one.

3. Language and thought development - Vygotsky is believes that language and thoughts
become interdependent, with speech becoming representational and cognition
becoming verbal.

The way a youngster interacts with other people improves this.

 Psychoanalytic theories
Personality development is the main emphasis of psychoanalytic concepts.

Psychosexual theory

The work of Sigmund Freud was the foundation of psychoanalytic thought.

Conflicts that arise throughout each of these phases, in Freud's view, can impact behavior and
personality for the rest of one's life.

Additionally, according to his hypothesis, during particular stages, the libido's energy was
concentrated in distinct erogenous zones. Personality is established by the age of five.

Five psychosexual phases of development comprised Freud's stages of human development,

which explained how personality evolved during childhood.

A healthy adult personality develops when each psychosexual stage are completed
successfully.

1. Oral stage –
 From birth until one year.

 The mouth serves as the infant's main means of communication.

 A newborn experiences pleasure from oral stimulation when engaging in

rewarding behaviours including sucking, rooting, and tasting.

 Completely reliant on carers, even while the kid also gains comfort and
confidence .

 The weaning process is the main source of tension at this point; preoccupation
may lead to issues with eating, drinking, smoking, or biting one's nails.

2. Anal stage –
 Between one and three years.

 Main emphasis on managing bowel and bladder motions.

  Toilet training is the source of contention at this point.

 Resolving the dispute results in self-reliance and a sense of achievement.

 Anal-expulsive personalities (those with a messy, destructive nature) and anal-

retentive personalities (those who are neat and strict) can both result from
fixation.

3. Phallic stage –
 Between Three to six years old

 Learn about the variations between men and women.

 Boys who have an Oedipus complex grow closer to their mothers, whereas
females who have an Electra complex grow closer to their fathers.

 Sexual dysfunction is the outcome of fixation.

4. Latent stage –
 From age six to puberty

 Sexual Attitudes Are Dormant

 Social skills, self-assurance, values, and interactions with adults and peers outside
the family are all developed in children.

 Immaturity and an inability to build satisfying relationships as an adult might arise

from fixation at this point.

5. Genital stage –

 From puberty to death

 Developing Sexual Preferences

 When all previous phases are completed successfully, a kind, compassionate person
will emerge.

Psychosocial theory

Proposed by psychologist Erik Erikson, who drew inspiration from Freud's theories.

This focuses on relationships and social factors that happen all throughout life.

This theory contains eight stages in all, with a conflict and two alternative outcomes at each
level. Effective conflict resolution will result in a person with a positive outlook and
wholesome connections.
  Attachment theory

This idea, which was put out by John Bowlby, emphasizes the significance of the emotional
ties that connect children to their parents or other caretakers.

According to Bowlby, children have an inbuilt tendency to develop bonds with people from
birth, and the important period is around two and a half years of age.

A youngster with a healthy attachment not only feels safe and secure, but it also aids in their
understanding of the world and shapes their future social interactions.

The youngster uses expressions like crying, chattering, smiling, etc. to get the caregiver's
attention.

The child will suffer from long-term social, cognitive, and emotional challenges if such a link
is not formed.
Theory of moral development
The process by which individuals learn to distinguish between the good and the bad
(morality) and use moral reasoning to make these distinctions is known as moral
development.

In order to investigate some of these fundamental issues, American psychologist Lawrence

Kohlberg created one of the most well-known theories.

Based on his research findings, which centred on a series of moral quandaries, he developed
this hypothesis.

By arguing that moral development is an ongoing process that takes place throughout life,
Kohlberg expanded on Piaget's idea. According to Kohlberg's thesis, moral growth occurs in
three stages.
Unstable attachments will result in:

1) Attachment avoidance

where the youngster keeps it to themselves and ignores their own wants and challenges.

2) Attachment that is ambivalent

if the youngster exhibits possessive behaviour and is too reliant on others.

3) A disorganized attachment style

typified by a dread of intimate connections with other people.

 Pre-conventional: ( from birth to 9 years )

Phase 1: Obedience and Penalty Orientation:

Moral judgments are predicated on abstaining from punishment and deferring to
authority.

Stage 2: Self-Interest Orientation:

Self-interest and meeting one's own wants serve as the foundation for moral
judgments.

 Conventional Level: (Early adolescence to adulthood)

Stage 3: Interpersonal Accord and Conformity (Good Boy/Nice Girl):

Upholding social concord and pleasing others serve as the foundation for moral
judgments.

Stage 4: Social Order and Authority Orientation:

In order to preserve social order, moral judgments are predicated on abiding by the
law.

 Post-Conventional level: ( Some adults )

Stage 5: Orientation to the Social Contract:

Moral judgments are predicated on awareness that laws and regulations are adaptable
and may be altered to further the common benefit.

Stage 6: Principles of Universal Ethics:

Human rights, equality, and other abstract ethical ideals serve as the foundation for
moral judgments.

What happens if there are impairments in a child’s physical, cognitive, behavioral or

language developments?
These disorders frequently start in childhood, affect daily functioning, and persist throughout
the whole of an individual's life.

Not every child is affected by every developmental issue. Your child may have an injury that
has long-term, special implications, or they may have an uncommon genetic characteristic.

 Autism spectrum disorder

Autism, which is a neuro developmental disease.

Rather, the most obvious symptoms could be difficulties with behavior, communication,
sensory perception, and social skills.

Many autistic children are talented, yet they may also struggle in some ability areas.

Children (and adults) with autism can maximize their talents and overcome any obstacles
with the aid of behavioral treatments and other forms of support.

 Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Persistent symptoms of impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention are hallmarks of

ADHD disorder, a neuro developmental condition that can affect day-to-day functioning.

Some people may exhibit a combination of both hyperactivity and inattention, while
others may be mostly hyperactive.

 Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

When a birthparent drinks alcohol while pregnant, it can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum
disorders.

Numerous adverse consequences for the developing brain and body of the growing fetus
infant may result from these diseases.

These infants usually weigh less and have issues with their hearing, eyesight, and
cognitive abilities, among other things.

 Language disorders

An inability to comprehend and/or use language, which can impact both written and
verbal communication, is known as a language problem. It may be inherited or arise later
in life as a result of trauma or disease.

Among the symptoms include stuttering, speech delays, difficulty interpreting words, etc.
Language difficulties can come in a variety of forms, including expressive and receptive
language impairments.

 Learning disorders
 Learning disabilities that may impact your child's ability to comprehend knowledge.
Genetics could be a major factor.

No matter how intelligent your child is, these illnesses can still exist. Academic
weaknesses are related to learning difficulties.

Typical learning difficulties include: Dyslexia: Inability to read and spell words correctly,
Dysgraphia is the term for writing difficulties in which a child's abilities fall short of
average.

Conclusion

Understanding the various elements that affect children's physical and mental development is
necessary to understand how they change and develop throughout their infancy.

Raising children in good physical and mental health so they can succeed as adults is a social
duty. To improve this, the organizations involved in a child's life should have close
relationships with one another.

Because caring for a child is exhausting and demands a lot of patience and sincere love, it's
also critical that caretakers maintain good physical and mental health in order to support a
great upbringing.

Recognizing early indicators of developmental delays requires an understanding of

developmental milestones, and early intervention can provide kids the help they need to
overcome obstacles and succeed.

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