Mental development is another name for extending the intellectual horizon of the child.

To begin with,
the world is one large, “booming, buzzing confusion” to the child. Gradually, details are perceived and
understood, differences are realised and experiences and knowledge are organised into new relations.
This is made possible through processes of differentiation and organisation or integration.

Mental development includes: abilities as attending, perceiving, observing, remembering, imagining,

thinking, solving problems and growth of intelligence as well as of language. These abilities change, grow
and mature with age and decline in old age.

Stages of Mental Development:

(a) From Birth to Three Years: The child is born with all the sensory equipment that are needed for
mental activity. By the age of three, he shows the ability to fulfill his needs in a selective manner.
Therein lies his mental development. This is evident from other types of behaviour as well. He secures or
tries to secure approval from his parents and others for the things he likes or does. The child’s curiosity
is another characteristic of mental development at this stage.

(b) From Three to Six Years: This period of the child’s life is characterised by his ability to use symbols
and words. He acquires a variety of sensory and perceptual experiences and these experiences
contribute a lot towards his mental development.

(c) Later Childhood: This period is marked by the ability to acquire keen and accurate perception. With
keen and accurate perception grows the process of conceptualization. Mental development is also
indicated in his growing interests. He begins to admire things and peoples around him. He begins to
imitate the manners and behaviour of those people whom he admires.

(d) Adolescence: Adolescence is the period when the mental development reaches its climax. The
various intellectual development activities such as observation, perception, attention, memory, thinking
and reasoning and intelligence reach their maturity.

The Various Aspects of Mental Development:

(i) Sensation and Perception: Sensation and perception form an important aspect of mental
development. Sensation is the first step to knowledge but it assumes the form of knowledge only when
it is attended to and a meaning is attached to it.

(ii) Concept Formation: A concept is the generalised meaning that is attached to an object. It is the result
of our perceptual experiences.

(iii) Development of Language: The process of concept formation as already pointed out, is helped by
the development of language. Language is a tool of both thinking and communication. It is a tool which
has to be effectively used in acquiring knowledge and mastering facts in education.
(iv) Growth in Thinking and Problem Solving: Growth in thinking and problem-solving which follows or is
made possible by the formation of concepts with the help of language, is an important aspect of mental
development. Thinking is a process of dealing with ideas, thoughts or concepts. It essentially consists in
the manipulation of symbols instead of the manipulation of objects and situations in an environment.

(v) The Growth of Intelligence or Intellectual Development: Intellectual development or the growth of
intelligence is the most important aspect of mental development. Here, we will only delineate it from
the development or growth point of view.

The growth of intelligence does not take place independently of the rest of the child’s personality.
Language development, emotional and social development as well as the physical growth are related to
the intellectual development or the growth of intelligence.