Characteristics of Childhood Stage of Development
Back to: Childhood and Growing Up – Unit 3,4
Introduction
Childhood is the state of being a child which usually refers to the period between infancy and adolescence. The Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act, 1986 states,
“a child is a person who has not completed 14 years of age.”
Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act, 1986
Childhood is a crucial stage in human development, characterized by rapid physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. During this stage, children develop a range of characteristics that shape their personalities and prepare them for the challenges of adulthood.Some of the characteristics are as follows:
Characteristics of Childhood
- During childhood, there is slow physical growth as compared to the infancy period. However, in girls, it is relatively faster.
- During the childhood stage, the child’s audio and visual senses develop completely by the age of 8 and 9.
- This is also the period when children tend to develop various interests but they do not necessarily have to be permanent interests.
- Childhood is also the period when children witness some rapid changes in their social behavior.
- According to Piaget, childhood is a period when children also develop the sense of what is right and what is wrong through adults.
- Childhood is the stage when there is a rapid development of memory and imagination as well.
- During the childhood stage, children start differentiating between males and females. Boys start playing together and girls start playing together.
- In this stage, children try to imitate their elders and develop interest in collecting things.
- During childhood, children are curious and therefore, they ask a lot of questions and feel satisfied once they receive an answer.
- A child’s vocabulary increases during 8-12 years. Their speech gets fluent and thus, there is improvement in language.
Curiosity :
Children are naturally curious and excited to explore the world around them. They ask questions, take things apart, and experiment to understand how things work.
Imagination :
Children have vivid imaginations and are able to create elaborate stories and play scenarios. They are able to visualize things that do not exist and are not limited by practical constraints.
Playfulness :
Children enjoy playing and having fun. They are able to find joy in simple things and are not burdened by the stresses of adulthood.
Trust :
Children trust the adults in their lives to provide for their needs and keep them safe. They are able to form close attachments with caregivers and other family members.
Resilience :
Children are resilient and able to bounce back from adversity. They are able to adapt to changes in their environment and cope with stressors.
Learning :
Children are sponges for knowledge and are constantly learning new things. They are able to absorb information quickly and make connections between different concepts.
Creativity :
Children are creative and are able to come up with new ideas and solutions to problems. They are not limited by conventional thinking and are able to approach problems from different angles.
Dependence :
Children are dependent on adults for their basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing. They are not yet able to care for themselves and require the support and guidance of caregivers.
Innocence :
Children are innocent and pure. They have not yet been exposed to the complexities of the adult world and are not burdened by the weight of responsibility.
Unconditional Love :
Children are capable of unconditional love, both for their caregivers and for others in their lives. They are able to form close bonds with others and show empathy and compassion.
Conclusion
In summary, childhood is characterized by a range of unique and important characteristics, including curiosity, imagination, playfulness, trust, resilience, learning, creativity, trustworthy, emotional, dependence, innocence, and unconditional love. By understanding these characteristics, parents and caregivers can’t better support children during this important stage of development, helping them to grow into healthy and we’ll adjusted adults.
