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Erikson's Stages Of Child Development

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The processes and theories in child development can be taught in classes and explored through textbooks, but real word observation is essential to truly understanding how significant this information is in daily life. Each child’s development is unique, and subtle differences in life experiences can dramatically alter their development both positively and negatively. For my observation, I chose to attend one of my close friends’ family nights where her brother and his wife brought their three young children, ages 8, 3, and 4 months. To get a glimpse both of the two main stages of human development we’ve been studying, birth through infancy and early childhood, I got permission from each parent to observe and write about both their three-year-old daughter and four-month-old son. To protect their privacy I will refer to the 3 year old girl as Anna and the 4-month-old baby boy as Adam. Throughout my observation process, I chose not to formally interview the children, but instead merely observe and participate when needed. At first, there was …show more content…

When talking with Anna’s mother, she described her daughter as “little miss independent”. Before dinner Anna set out placemats for everybody and brought in the food from the kitchen, serving it to each person. When family members tried to offer their help, she would defensively reply that she could do it on her own. Additionally later that night, she proudly informed me that she was able to pick out her own outfit that day, something that she wasn’t allowed to do independently until recently. As she danced around the room in her princess Elsa shirt, tutu, and bight pink leggings, it was clear her parents are supportive of her choices and let her explore her independence instead of discouraging her by saying things such as “That doesn’t match, you need to

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