Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Overall Objectives

1. Clients will understand the developmental stages of children from infancy to adolescence, and be made aware of helpful and harmful parenting behaviours related to each stage.
2. Clients will understand and be made aware of child abuse and neglect.

Objectives

Clients will be able to:

1. List the 5 stages of child development.
2. Describe briefly the main challenges of each stage.
3. Describe briefly child abuse and neglect.

Resources

• Developmental Charts/Pictures of the various stages of development.
• Diagrams.
• Markers.
• Pencils for clients.
• Writing pads or paper for clients.
• Television.
• VCR.
• Video: Child’s Play (Child development from birth up to 5 year - First Days of Parenthood)
• Handouts:
  1. Immunization.
  2. Your Child’s Growth: Developmental Milestones.
  3. Preventing Child Sexual Abuse.
  4. Indicators of Abuse and Neglect.
  5. SCAN Flyer.
  6. Violence – Talking With Your Teen
  7. Improving Family Relations.
  8. Balancing Work and Family.
  9. Ways Parents Can Help Their Children.
  10. Our Children’s Self-Esteem.

Vocabulary (in alphabetical order):

Development
Shows how a child changes from one stage to another. It includes psychological, social, intellectual and physical changes.

Developmental Stages
A period of gradual formation and attainment of particular skills and behaviours. Each new level of functioning contains within it the behaviour patterns of earlier stages e.g. walking as a toddler later progresses to skipping and jumping in childhood.

Behaviour
The way one acts or reacts in some special way.

Childhood
The period of being a young human being below the age of adolescence.

Immunization
Treatment given to protect individuals against particular infections.

Infancy
The period from birth to two years.

Self-control
The ability to control one’s behaviour.

Shame
A painful feeling resulting from a sense of having done something wrong or being criticized or ridiculed.

Trust
Firm belief in the reliability, truth or strength of a person.

Introduction (5 minutes)

“I am Special”
“I am special, I am me, two little eyes one little nose, and a mouth that speaks. There is nobody else in this world like me”

The very first thing that has to be made clear is that we are all different with no two people being the same.

Therefore when we speak of developmental stages from infancy to adolescence, we mean the normal changes that will occur in a person’s life as he/she grows from a baby to an adult. Remember that there will be differences along the way.

1. Infancy (baby to 2 years).
2. Early childhood (3 – 4 years).
3. Middle childhood (5 – 7years).
4. Late childhood (8 – 12 years).
5. Adolescence (13 – 18 years).

Body (40 minutes)

“Insert practical examples wherever possible”

Development shows how a child changes from one stage to another.
Each developmental stage builds upon the other through the blending of all of the previous stages of development.

1. Infancy

What body changes take place during infancy, that is, birth to 2 years old?

During this stage the infant develops a sense of trust. He/she is able to sleep peacefully, eat comfortably and expect diapers to be changed regularly. The infant develops a trust for the person who takes care of him/her and depends on this person or persons. The infant needs to feel attached to one or more people and needs to feel that this person will never leave them.

Special needs:

• Nourishing diet.
• Certainty of parents love with consistent care. Verbal response to his babbling to help language development.
• Safe environment with ability to move about to develop the muscles.
• 1 to 2 year-olds require patience and acceptance of constant activity and encouragement as he/she tries to learn to do things him/herself.
• Protection from injury, harm and accidents.

Helpful Parenting Behaviours:

• Follow a routine for sleep, bath time and feeding time.
• Cuddle and play with the infant.
• Provide a loving and safe environment.

2. Early Childhood

What changes occur during early childhood (3 to 4 years)?

This is the developmental stage of self-control, wanting to be independent. Failure to achieve independence can cause shame and doubt or uncertainty.

• The child learns what is expected of him/her, that is, what are its duties, its rights and how far it will be allowed to go (limitations).
• The need for self-control or independence develops and the child needs others around him to accept this need. The child learns from himself and others.

He/she needs to make free choices and begin to do things of free-will e.g. put on own clothes, go to the bathroom, and bathe self, decide on clothes to wear. This provides a sense of control. When the child is not successful, criticized, or ridiculed it leaves him feeling ashamed and he begins to doubt himself and become unwilling to try new and different things. During this stage it is important for the child to develop self-control.

• Begin to develop language.
• Play and pretend.
• Allow the child to make mistakes.
• As parents you need to praise the child, for example, “use praise to potty train”.
• Encourage attempts to do things for him/herself.
• Make reasonable demands for self-control, tidiness, helping in the home.
• Do not give into tantrums.
• Make sure that child is immunized against childhood diseases.

3. Middle Childhood

What major activity is most important at this age (middle childhood, 5 to 7 years)?

The activity is play

• The child develops ideas of numbers through practical experience.
• Develops ideas about being male and female.
• Begins to think about right and wrong.
• Begins to play with others and learn to co-operate.
• There is a growing desire to learn.
• Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions!

Helpful Parenting Behaviour

• Praise the child for doing something well, he will want to do it again.
• Give the child responsibility for a few simple jobs e.g. wiping the table, emptying waste paper bins. This makes him feel a part of the family.
• Encourage physical activity so that the child learns to use and control different muscles.
• Allow the child to try to find a way to solve a problem on his own before helping.
• Answer questions as honestly as possible and specific to age group. For example, where do babies come from? At this stage a simple answer, "babies grow in their mommies’ tummies" would suffice.
• Promise to find out answers of questions you’re not sure of, and follow-up!
• Encourage curiosity.
• Spend time playing with and reading to child.
• Consciously start teaching “right and wrong” behaviour.
• Be consistent about rules and correct behaviour; both parents should be in agreement.
• Be careful of what child sees and hears “actions taken by adults in the home”.
• Give wise supervision!

4. Late Childhood

For the development stage of late childhood, 8 to 12 years.

What do we mean by Industry versus Inferiority?

Industry refers to a sense of pleasure in work. The child is encouraged by industry and wants and enjoys achievement. He begins to think about himself. There is a desired sense of achievement by attending school and taking part in social groups. If the child feels that he has not lived up to expected standards then he will develop a feeling of worthlessness or inferiority, that is, feeling he is not as good as others.

Helpful Parenting Behaviour

• Supervise homework, help when necessary.
• Do not compare your child to anyone else, especially a smart brother or sister or other children.
• Visit your child’s school regularly; discuss him/her.
• Do not criticize your child for failure that occurs after the child has tried.
• Praise him/her for effort in work.
• Never bribe a child for performing in school by offering money or material rewards.
• Encourage an orderly approach to all tasks, that is, school or home chores.
• Acceptance at own level of development.

5. Adolescence 13 to 18 years

• Identity is a sense of direction, certainty of who one is, one’s values and beliefs.
• Identity confusion: sense of confusion, not sure of who one is, drifting without purpose, lost, no clear system of values.
• The adolescent is no longer a child, not yet an adult. He/she feels that he/she is a unique person, one of a kind with a sense of purpose, able to contribute to society by ‘fitting’ into it in a meaningful way.
• It is during this time that the individual begins to feel a sense of his/her own identity, and decide where they wish to be in the future, that is, make career plans.
• This period is also the time when the adolescent may feel pressured by peer groups and give up parts of his/her personal view to fall in with the group norms in order to feel accepted.
• During this stage adolescents become used to a mature body, make lasting decisions for themselves e.g. gain support from same age friends, try out sexual activities.
• Any previous unresolved tasks during other developmental stages will have a negative affect in adolescence. For example, not understanding societal rules and expectations and inappropriate behaviour that have not been corrected in earlier stages.
  

Helpful Parenting Behaviour

• Spend time listening to and talking with teenager regarding his/her ideas.
• Never dismiss teenager’s ideas before listening.
• Make a point of knowing his/her friends, encourage them to bring friends home.
• Discuss rules and reasons for them; do not just lay down the rules.
• Make your own values re sexuality very clear
• Parents should be consistent.
• Set rules for parties, school work, chores.
• Assure security, adolescents seek both dependence and independence.
• Provide constructive recreation, for example, youth group.
• Give opportunities to make decisions and to earn and save money.
• Continue to offer love, safety and protection.
• Encourage, support, and accept teen’s emerging personal identity: accepting that it may be different from what you desired or hoped for your teen.

Child Neglect and Abuse

As parents, adults, family members, members of a community, society and citizens of a country, we have the God-given right to protect our children from child abuse and neglect.

An abused or neglected child is one who has suffered from repeated deliberate violence or from intentional withholding of care on the part of parents or guardians.

If one verbally abuses and continually rejects a child – this is emotional abuse.

Harmful actions against a child resulting in injury such as bruises, burns, fractures, abdominal injury etc. are all due to physical abuse.

Sexual abuse is the involvement of dependent, developmentally immature children and adolescents in sexual activities.

Incest is a sexual relationship between a parent and child or between two siblings. Incest is a more complicated form of sexual abuse, as it involves family members who have long-term relationships. The perpetrator and the victim are usually in continuous daily contact. Other family members are usually aware of what is going on and “hide it.” Psychological, rather than physical force is usually involved. If not stopped, it only gets worse over the years.

Neglect is the failure of the parent or guardian to act properly in safeguarding the health, safety and wellbeing of the child. It includes nutritional neglect, failure to provide medical care or failure to protect a child from physical and social danger.

All types of abuse and neglect are offenses punishable under the law.

Indicators of Abuse and Neglect

Emotional Abuse

• Speech disorders.
• Lags in physical development, and emotional development.
• Failure to thrive.
• Conduct disorders.
• Sleep disorders.
• Unable to play freely.
• Fearful.
• Imaginary illnesses.

Physical Abuse

• Unexplained bruises, burns, cuts.
• Injury reflecting shape of articles used (electric cord, belt buckle).
• Nervous when other children cry.
• Aggressiveness or withdrawal.
• Afraid to go home.
• May report injury.

Sexual Abuse

• Difficulty in walking or sitting.
• Torn, stained or bloody underclothing.
• Pain or itching in genital areas.
• Bruises or bleeding in external genital area, vagina and/or anal areas.
• Sexually transmitted infection, pregnancy.
• Unwilling to participate in certain physical activities.
• Act out sexually.
• Withdrawal keeps to oneself.
• Drop out of school.
• Unusual sexual behaviour or knowledge.
• Alcohol/drug abuse.
• Poor peer relationships.
• Promiscuity.
• Reports sexual assault.
• Assaultive behaviour.

Neglect

• Consistent hunger, poor hygiene, inappropriate dress.
• Consistent lack of supervision.
• Unattended physical problems or needs (appropriate clothing, medical attention).
• Abandonment.
• Begging, stealing food.
• Constant fatigue, listlessness or falling asleep.
• Child stated there is no caregiver at home.

Conclusion

Developmental stages of infancy to adolescence involve the changes that the individual goes through. There is the stage of infancy, from birth to 2 years, when parental certainty or consistency is most important.

The stage of early childhood at ages 3 to 4 years; indicates independence and guidelines where there is love, security and allowance of mistakes.

Middle childhood, age 5 to 7 years is based on the time in a child’s life where he/she wants to achieve and there is a desire to learn with encouragement, praise and supervision.

Late childhood, age 8 to 12 years, industry versus inferiority: the child receives a sense of pleasure from work and a desired sense of achievement. The child needs acceptance at his own level of development.

Adolescence, age 13 to 18 years: identity versus identity confusion. Identity is a sense of direction, certainty of who one is, versus a sense of confusion, lost, no clear value system. At this age one needs clear direction, consistent parents, security and opportunities to make decisions.

You should always protect your children from abuse be it emotional, physical, sexual, incest or neglect.