LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT – A PSYCHOLOGICAL constantly moving guide and safety inspector for a

PERSPECTIVE mobile, energetic child.

1.4: Periods of Development Early Childhood: This period is also referred to as the
Table 1.2 reflects unique aspects of the various stages of preschool years and consists of the years which follow
childhood and adulthood that will be explored in this toddlerhood and precede formal schooling. As a two to
book. So while both an 8 month old and an 8 year old six-year-old, the child is busy learning language, is
are considered children, they have very different motor gaining a sense of self and greater independence, and is
abilities, social relationships, and cognitive skills. Their beginning to learn the workings of the physical world.
nutritional needs are different and their primary Middle and Late Childhood: The ages of six to the onset
psychological concerns are also distinctive. The same is of puberty comprise middle and late childhood, and
true of an 18 year old and an 80 year old, both much of what children experience at this age is
considered adults. connected to their involvement in the early grades of
school. Now the world becomes one of learning and
Table 1.2: Age Periods of Development testing new academic skills and by assessing one’s
abilities and accomplishments by making comparisons
Age Period Description
between self and others.
Adolescence: Adolescence is a period of dramatic
Starts at conceptions,
physical change marked by an overall growth spurt and
continues through
sexual maturation, known as puberty. It is also a time of
Prenatal implantation in the uterine
cognitive change as the adolescent begins to think of
wall by the embryo, and
new possibilities and to consider abstract concepts such
ends at birth
as love, fear, and freedom. Ironically, adolescents have a
Starts at birth and sense of invincibility that puts them at greater risk of
Infancy and dying from accidents or contracting sexually transmitted
continues to two years of
Toddlerhood infections that can have lifelong consequences.
age
Emerging Adulthood: The period of emerging adulthood
Starts at two years of age is a transitional time between the end of adolescence and
Early Childhood and continues until six before individuals acquire all the benchmarks of
years of age adulthood. Continued identity exploration and
preparation for full independence from parents are
Starts at six years of age demonstrated. Although at one’s physiological peak,
Middle and Late emerging adults are most at risk for involvement in
and continues until the
Childhood violent crimes and substance abuse.
onset of puberty
Early Adulthood: The twenties and thirties are identified
Starts at the onset of as early adulthood. Intimate relationships, establishing
Adolescence families, and work are primary concerns at this stage of
puberty until 18
life.
Emerging Adulthood Starts at 18 until 25 Middle Adulthood: The forties through the mid-sixties is
referred to as middle adulthood. This is a period in
Early Adulthood Starts at 25 until 40-45 which aging becomes more noticeable and when many
people are at their peak of productivity in love and work.
Middle Adulthood Starts at 40-45 until 60-65 Late Adulthood: Late adulthood is sometimes
subdivided into two categories: The young-old who are
Late Adulthood Starts at 65 onward from 65-84 years and the oldest-old who are 85 years
Prenatal Development: Conception occurs and and older. One of the primary differences between these
development begins. All of the major structures of the groups is that the young-old are still relatively healthy,
body are forming and the health of the mother is of productive, active, and the majority continue to live
primary concern. Understanding nutrition, teratogens (or independently. With both age groups the risks of
environmental factors that can lead to birth defects), and diseases such as, arteriosclerosis, cancer, and cerebral
labor and delivery are primary concerns. Infancy and vascular disease increases substantially.
Toddlerhood: The first two years of life are ones of
dramatic growth and change. A newborn, with a keen
sense of hearing but very poor vision is transformed into
a walking, talking toddler within a relatively short period
of time. Caregivers are also transformed from someone
who manages feeding and sleep schedules to a