Chapter 5

TYPICAL AND ATYPICAL DEVELOPMENT AMONG CHILDREN

I. CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND ITS IMPORTANCE

To ensure that a child meets his/her developmental milestones, it is crucial to observe and
monitor his/her development. The milestones or developmental skills that need to be mastered usually
at the same rate act as a guide for ideal development. It is done by checking the progress of a child
based on his or her age to see if the child is developing within expectations.

II. CHILD DEVELOPMENT THEORIES

During the early 20th century, interest in child development began, specifically, that which
focused on detecting abnormalities. Certain theories were discovered based on his interest to
appreciate the growth that children experience from birth to adolescence.

A. Psychological Development Theory of Erick Erickson

This is an eight-stage theory that describes the changes one goes through in a lifetime.

Stages of Psychological Development

 Infant
 Toddler
 Pre-school
 Grade-school
 Teenager
 Young Adult
 Middle-age Adult
 Older Adult