Stages of Child Development – Vocabulary List

20 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to stages, theories, and skills in child development.

Child Development

The process of growth and change from birth through adolescence, including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional domains.

Physical Development

Changes in body size, proportions, appearance, bodily systems, perceptual and motor abilities, and overall health.

Cognitive Development

Advancement in intellectual abilities such as attention, memory, problem-solving, imagination, creativity, and language.

Social Development

Progress in how children interact with family members, peers, and others in their environment.

Emotional Development

The process through which children learn to recognize, understand, and express feelings.

Nature

Inherited traits determined by genes received from parents.

Nurture

Environmental influences and experiences that shape development.

Prenatal

The developmental stage from conception to birth.

Infancy

The first year of life.

Toddlerhood

The developmental period from roughly 1 to 3 years of age.

Early Childhood

The stage spanning approximately ages 3 to 5.

Middle Childhood

The period from about 6 to 11 years of age.

Adolescence

The transition from childhood to adulthood, roughly ages 10 to 18.

Behaviorism

A learning theory focused on observable behaviors and their modification through environmental stimuli.

Social Learning Theory

A theory emphasizing learning through observation and imitation of others.

Psychoanalytic Theory

A theory that stresses the role of the unconscious mind and early experiences in shaping development.

Sociocultural Theory

A perspective highlighting how social interactions and cultural contexts influence development.

Ecological Systems Theory

A framework emphasizing the interconnected environmental systems that affect development.

Self-regulation

The ability to control one’s own behavior and emotions.

Critical Thinking

The capacity to analyze information objectively and make well-reasoned judgments.