3.7. Childhood

The child’s growth slows down during early childhood as compared to infancy. The child develops physically, gains height and weight, learns to walk, runs, jumps, and plays with a ball. Socially, the child’s world expands from the parents to the family and adults near home and at school. The child also begins to acquire the concepts of good and bad, i.e., develops a sense of morality.

During childhood, growth tends to be more gradual compared to infancy. Children will physically grow, meaning they get taller and gain weight. They will develop motor skills such as walking, running, and jumping, which are critical for play. Socially, children start to interact more with family members and peers rather than just relying on their parents. They also learn values and moral concepts, distinguishing between what is good and what's bad.

Think of a sapling growing into a young tree. In the beginning, during infancy, it's planted and stabilizes in its place. As it grows into childhood, it gains height and develops branches (like skills), and it starts interacting with the surroundings, like a child learning to play with friends.

Early development follows two principles: (i) development proceeds cephalocaudally, i.e. from the cephalic or head region to the caudal or tail region. Children gain control over the upper part of the body before the lower part. This is why you would notice that the infant’s head is proportionately larger than her/his body during early infancy or if you see an infant crawling, s/he will use the arms first and then shift to using the legs.

Physical development in young children follows two specific patterns. The first pattern is called cephalocaudal, meaning development starts from the head and moves down to the tail (feet). For example, children learn to move their heads before they gain control over their legs. Second, children develop from the center of their bodies outward, known as proximodistal development. This means they learn to control their torso before their arms and legs.

Imagine a tree growing. The branches (arms and legs) grow and branch out only after the trunk (torso) is strong and stable. A child will learn to wave their hands (fine motor skills) after they can sit up straight (core strength).

The child’s ability to acquire the concept of object permanence enables her/him to use mental symbols to represent objects. However, the child at this stage lacks the ability that allows her/him to do mentally what was done physically before.

Cognitive development involves a child's growing capacity to understand and mentally visualize things, even when they aren't present. For instance, when a child realizes that a toy continues to exist even when it's hidden (object permanence), it reflects their developing cognition. However, young children typically cannot mentally manipulate objects in the same way they can physically play with them just yet.

Think about playing hide and seek. A child who has mastered object permanence understands that even when they can't see their friend hiding, their friend is still there. It's like remembering how a favorite toy is kept hidden in a box; they can mentally picture it until they go to find it.

The important dimensions of children’s socio-emotional development are the self, gender and moral development. During the early years of childhood, some important developments in the self take place. The child due to socialisation has developed a sense of who s/he is and whom s/he wants to be identified with.

As children grow, their social and emotional skills begin to evolve significantly. They develop a sense of self - understanding who they are, their preferences, and their roles in the family or peers. They also start to identify with their gender more strongly and understand moral concepts. This early self-awareness influences their interactions and how they form relationships.

Imagine a child choosing to dress up like their favorite superhero. This decision is based on admiration and identification, showcasing their understanding of identity. It's like trying on different hats until they find the one that feels right for them.

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