Childhood
Childhood is the age range from birth to puberty. Childhood is one of the longest stages of a person’s life. It varies from one region to another. Some see that childhood begins from birth, others say it begins from breastfeeding. Some countries extend the childhood to the age of eighteen, ie, entering adolescence and ending childhood, and this is common in most countries, especially the developing countries of the world.
Stages of childhood
The childhood is divided into three sections:
Early childhood
Is the period ranging from two to three years, and has several characteristics common between the female and male, namely:
- Movement, and instability in a particular place.
- Imitate adults around him, especially parents in everything.
- Frequent stubbornness.
- The inability to distinguish between right and wrong.
- Ask any time and in any way.
- His memory is pure and clean which helps him to memorize and without understanding.
- The tendency to material and moral encouragement.
- He likes to play and have a lot of fun getting to know the life around him.
- The desire to compete with peers, brothers and others, especially for those of his age.
- Imagination control his thinking.
- Love learning and acquiring skills.
- Rapid language learning.
- The desire to unfix things around and reinstall them.
- The child’s emotions are very intense.
Middle childhood
Is the period of six to nine years, and at this stage begins to appear gender differences, and has several characteristics:
- Learn the motor skills needed for reading, writing and arithmetic.
- Growth of the child’s muscular system and increased control of movements.
- The child physical skills are proficient at this stage gradually, and is characterized by the ability to balance, especially when playing.
- At the age of eight, his movements are characterized by economy, accuracy and the direction towards achieving a certain goal.
- At the age of six, the phenomenon of the left- handed child, that is, the child using his left hand, causes him some problems and difficulties, especially since many of the tools around him are suitable for those who use the right hand.
Late Childhood
From six to ten years for females, and from six to twelve for males.
It has several characteristics:
- Weight gain is 10% and length is 5% per year.
- This stage is characterized by emotional stability.
- Muscle grows and self-confidence increases.
- Sensory growth increases in the child.
- Learn basic skills in education.
- Increasing attention to hygiene.
- Regulate brain function.
- Sense of social responsibility.
- Physiological growth at this stage where the pressure rate decreases, and blood pressure increases.
- The self concept of the child at this stage becomes positive.
- The child’s personal features are composed.
- Proficiency of speech and linguistic development.
- Induction processes and reasoning appear.
- Formation of conscience and manners.