The Human Lifecycles : The Stages And Consequences Of Childhood

Lifespan development is essential, as it is the changes that happen to us throughout a person’s lifespan. Our development occurs at ages stages where we develop from infancy till death. This essay will contain my life story to display the domains in 5 age stages in my lifespan development. The domains I will be exploring is in this essay is physical, emotional, cognitive, social, cultural and moral domain. The influence of biological and environmental play a significant role in my development. Development is influenced by nature or nurture and its affect will occur throughout lifespan. The changes that occur during development have stage. Each theorists has stages of development where they display the changes. This essay will explore my

One of the main features of childhood studies is the idea that childhood is socially constructed. This means that not all childhoods are the same and that it may differ depending on the time in which it is taking place, as well as the social environment or the place that it is taking place. This can be seen at the Museum of Childhood, and how different times have shown changes in the way children act, play, dress, or ultimately are treated in society. Additionally it draws on key differences in the human societies affecting different childhoods in any given period or place, and can examine how the childhood in that given period is constructed. Furthermore a social constructionist looks at the consequences of any given factor and the impact it has on children.

The concept of childhood, is not a natural state, but it has been socially constructed through society and can only exist in a society that understand the term this has been reinforced through history. Another issue is how much of ‘childhood’ has been socially constructed (created and

Childhood is socially construted, this means it is only a human concept and the only reason that 'childhood ' exists is because society makes it that way. Over time childhood has changed as different norms and values over each century of life have been different and is still changing at present. Also in different places of the world there are different cultures and ethics so therefore their veiw of childhood will also be different. As Wagg (1992) states ‘Childhood is socially constructed. It is, in other words, what members of particular societies, at particular times, and in particular places, say it is. There is no single universal childhood, experienced by all. So, childhood isnt “natural” and should be distinguished from mere

There have been many ideas on how to define childhood that have been expressed over the years, from more controversial concepts such as the psychosexual stages developed by Freud to the more polished concepts like Jean Piaget’s stages of cognitive development and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s tabula rasa. Despite these differing academic views about how to describe childhood, there is a universal understanding that childhood is a distinct space from adulthood. Childhood is often depicted as a stage in life that is filled with unruly behaviour, an abundance of imagination and irrational thought processes. It is also commonly portrayed as a vulnerable period in which children should be sheltered from neglect, abuse, and exploitation. As newcomers to

The early years of a child’s life are important for several reasons. One of these reasons is the early years are a very impressionable time. It is at this time the children are somewhat like sponges. Another reason is they are absorbing everything in their environment. A solid foundation in the early years can influence a child’s adult life. It is in the early years that a child’s brain is developing at a speedy pace (UNICEF, 2013). According to UNICEF (2013), “Early years of childhood form the basis of intelligence, personality, social behavior, and capacity to learn and nurture oneself as an adult”.

Childhood is usually understood as a set of experiences and behaviours, gained in the early stages of the human existence, considered as the preparation for the adult world. However, the history of childhood is a very complex topic and it has become a very influential area of study in recent years. In 1962, the ‘Centuries of Childhood’ by Philippe Ariés introduced the idea that childhood was a new creation developed in recent centuries and as a concept it was believed to be nonexistent before the seventeenth century. This concept means that there was no awareness of the process of childhood. In several studies of the medieval period, Ariés noticed that childhood was not acknowledged or even attempted to be portrayed during this period. For

Childhood as disappearing/not disappearing will be discussed within this essay. There is no universal definition for childhood however in the western culture childhood is a period of dependency, characterised by learning the norms and values of society, innocence and freedom from responsibilities. Sociologists such as Postman and Jenks would argue that childhood is disappearing however Opie and Opie and Palmer would contradict this.

French Historian Philippe Aries (1962) was influential in his work of childhood. Aries (1962) viewed childhood as a social construction, he supports this theory through the inexistence of childhood within medieval society (reference). Children were looked upon as ‘small adults’ who participated in the same rituals as adults and were treated in the same manner.

Childhood has been a topic of controversy for a while, as the meaning of childhood differs from era to era and so do the views. As the enlightenment period started during the late 17th century views of childhood started emerging. Some major figures that influenced the way childhood is interpreted, during the time were Jean Jacques Rousseau and John Locke. However, as time progressed childhood views became complex and divided, this is evident during the industrial revolution (1879-1900). Where childhood for children differ according to their economic status. The role of parents and education was a major factor in which how long or how short a child’s childhood was as well as the families’ economic status.

Childhood, including infants, remains the most important stage for many people’s lives for socialization and for the cognitive, emotional, and physiological development. In regard to education, health, and other outcomes, many children do not fare well during childhood. What most people do not understand is anything that happens to a child during their childhood can ruin them for a lifetime. For example, Historian Philippe Aries drew a conclusion and said, Europeans did not regard childhood as a special time of life, instead they viewed children as little adults and put them to work at an early age. Little boys were forced to leave home for good to learn a certain job. Little girls stayed home until marriage, but assumed their share of household tasks. [85-86] During

Childhood is predominantly defined as the period after infancy and before sexual maturation, while adolescence as a developmental stage is the time where the maturation takes place, also regarded as a transformation phase to adulthood (Berry, Poortinga, Breugelmans, Chasiotis & Sam, 2011). Under childhood and adolescence as a cultural notion, ideas about children and development are found everywhere but such ideas differ across cultures. Within western societies

The definition of childhood has grown and developed throughout the years depending on the need and the status at the time. Children have been broadly defined as blank slates to be molded by the adult community, purer than adults, uncivilized beings needed to be tamed or innocent until corrupted by the adult world (Halko). Yet, even these diverse definitions fail to encompass the entire concept of childhood. As a culture or nation develops, so does it images on childhood. “A culture shapes childhood into what it needs to be at

Childhood is a developmental stage of life that dictates the functionality and well-being of a person’s future. One of the major institutions in which children spend most of their time developing is school. The education system in which children are exposed to and brought up in defines who the child will become and the sort of knowledge the child will bring with them

Lifespan development is the process of growth that takes place from the day we are born until the day we die. According to John W. Santrock, development is defined as, “a pattern of movement or change that begins at conception and continues throughout the lifespan; most development involves growth, although it also includes decline brought on by aging, ending with death” (Santrock, 2015). Human development is an important area of study because it can helps us to understand certain behaviours, and what can affect these ways of behaving which ultimately affect their life choices and consequences. For example, from studying this area of development we are able to learn about whether the instinct of “right and wrong” is innate