Early Childhood: Developmental Psychology Study Notes

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The early childhood period encompasses children from ages one to six years. This stage is divided into two main phases:

During early childhood, physical growth slows and stabilizes compared to infancy.

Children in early childhood face several key developmental tasks:

Language Acquisition: Developing both receptive (understanding) and expressive (speaking) language skills.
Social Interaction: Learning to interact with peers and adults.
Self-Control: Mastering control over bodily functions, such as toilet training.
Self-Image and Autonomy: Beginning to form a sense of self and independence.

Physical and physiological changes during early childhood include:

Walking: Most children walk independently by the end of the toddler phase.
Fontanels: The soft spots on the skull close during this period.
Weight Gain: Growth continues but at a slower, steadier rate.
Pincer Grasp: Fine motor skills develop, allowing children to pick up small objects.
Hearing: Hearing becomes fully functional, supporting language development.
Fine Motor Skills: Skills such as drawing, stacking blocks, and using utensils improve.
Toilet Training: Most children achieve bladder and bowel control during this stage.

Nutrition is crucial for optimal physical and mental development in early childhood. Key points include:

Children are often fed by adults, whose food choices may be influenced by culture, tradition, or trends.
Eating habits established in early childhood can persist into adulthood.
Adequate nutrition supports growth, cognitive development, and immune function.

Receptive Language: Understanding words and commands develops before the ability to speak.
By age 1: First clear word, responds to simple commands.
By 15 months: Speaks 4-6 words.
By 19 months: Speaks about 15 words.
By age 2: Vocabulary exceeds 100 words; can follow two-step commands.

Toddlers begin to use words to express ideas and solve problems.
Preschoolers' thinking is characterized by Piaget's preoperational stage (prelogical thinking).
Children gradually learn about cause and effect and problem-solving.
A major task is learning impulse control.

Example: A preschooler may believe that their thoughts can cause events (magical thinking), a hallmark of preoperational thought.

According to Kohlberg, learning self-control and sharing are key moral tasks in early childhood.
Children look to parents as models for moral behavior.
Consistent, positive reinforcement and discipline help children learn socially acceptable behavior.

Time-out: Removing the child from a problematic situation for a short period.
Corporal Punishment: Physical discipline, which is generally discouraged in modern psychology.
Rewarding Good Behavior: Considered the most effective technique.
Operant Theory: Based on the principle that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are more likely to be repeated.

Example: Praising a child for sharing toys increases the likelihood of future sharing.

Age-Appropriate Toys: Toys should match the child's developmental stage.
Parallel Play: Toddlers play alongside but not with other children.
Cooperative Play: Preschoolers begin to play with others, sharing and collaborating.
Play allows children to imitate adult roles, act out fantasies, and solve problems.

Early childhood is a period of increased risk for certain types of accidents. Common safety risks include: