Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

Theories of Age and Understanding in Children

In this activity, you will:

 Discuss the stages of childhood development at different ages

Facilitator’s notes:

Sociologists and behavioural psychologists who study the development of children over time have
identified patterns in their behaviour based on their age. This, of course, may be intuitive to any
parent, who has also observed first hand the stages of development of his or her own children.

Here are two well-known theories of child development:

It is useful to know what children understand at a particular age or stage in order to know how
children view themselves and the world, and what influences their behaviour. However, the fact
that these two theorists have different views on what a child understands at a particular age, shows
that generalisations may not be enough to explain a child’s development. There are many factors
that influence how an individual child sees and understands his or her world. Those who wish to
help children should listen to and observe them carefully to understand what stage of development
they may be at in relation to their culture and life experience.

Activity 3

ERICKSON’S THEORY:

Infancy (0-1 years):Child entirely dependent. During this phase the child develops a

sense of trust.

Early Childhood (1-3 years): Child becomes aware of being a separate being from the

parent and of having his/her own will. (Possible behaviour includes temper

tantrums and crying when separated from mother.)

Nursery School Age (3-5 years): Child begins to play in groups and show increased sense of

responsibility for him/herself.

Primary School Age (5-11 years): Child develops a desire to achieve, especially in social

relationships.

Adolescence: Child acquires a sense of own identity, independence and goals in life.

PIAGET’S THEORY:

Sensori-motor stage (0-2 years): Child acquires a permanent image of him/herself and the

practical world around him/her.

Infantile realism (3-7 years): Child sees him/herself as the centre of the universe. Bad

events are seen as a punishment for what he/she has done.

Concrete operations (8-11 years): Child acquires the ability to think systematically about

logical relations within a problem. There is abstract thinking, e.g. planned activities.

Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Unit 2, Module 2^165