During the first 3 years of life the child’s brain is easily stimulated and able to learn rapidly due to the overproduction of synapses followed by a reduction of synapses, which improves the efficiency of brain functioning. Brain plasticity (Hutchison, 2014, 106).
Cognitive development
By 2 to 3 years of age most toddlers have reached appropriate milestones, such as the development of putting together a …show more content…
Mastery in each stage is vital for further development or else one remains stuck in a stage. A psychological challenge is proposed in each stage along with a defined characteristic for each stage. The first life stage, infancy poses the challenge of basic trust versus mistrust by explaining that “infants must form trusting relationships with caregivers or they will learn to distrust the world.” The second life stage, toddlerhood poses the challenge of autonomy versus shame and doubt by explaining that “toddlers must develop self-confidence and a sense of mastery over themselves and their worlds and they must use newly developed motor skills, or they will develop shame and doubt about their ability to develop control.” (Hutchison, 2014, …show more content…
It begins with the infant learning to recognize the mother’s voice and is fully developed during the second year of life when a partnership is developed between mother and toddler. Bowlby describes that the earliest attachment, usually the mother, becomes a working model for the child’s next relationships. Need to read rest of section. (Hutchison, 2014, 116-117).
Ainsworth’s theory of attachment was constructed by infants’ reactions to a series of “strange situations,” where a child is exposed for about 25 minutes to eight constructed episodes involving separations and reunions with the mother. There are three identified types of attachments: secure, anxious, and avoidant. The child’s reaction to the separation measured the type of child attachment to the mother.
1. Secure: child uses mother as home base. Is comfortable in leaving the base/mother to explore playroom. Returns to mother every so often to make sure she is still present. When mother leaves child cries but seeks comfort when she returns. Easily reassured and soothed by mothers