Developmental transitions

•Prenatal: conception – 0

•Fertilisation: when a sperm penetrates an egg and they form one complete cell, called a zygote

Characterised by:

oDevelopment of the bodily organs and structures

oSubstantial growth – fastest growth period of all human lifespan stages (from one cell to more than 200 billion cells and avg. 3.5kg)

oMost vulnerable stage

•Infancy: 0 – 2 years

•Characterised by:

•Rapid growth

•Motor skills ( can walk, use simple words, identify familiar people, play social games & throw tantrums)

•Early Childhood: 2 – 6 years

Characterised by:

•Slow and steady growth

•Accomplishment of many new skills

•Learns social skills and will make friends

•Become toilet trained

•Late Childhood: 6 – 12 years

Characterised by:

•Slow and steady growth

•Many physical, social, emotional and intellectual changes, e.g. refining reading & writing skills, developing long-term memory, honing motor skills, understand stereotypes

•Youth: 12 – 18 years

Characterised by:

•Rapid growth

•Increased independence & more complex relationships

•Sexual maturity

•Life goal development

•Early Adulthood: 18 – 40 years

Characterised by:

•Deciding on a career

•Choose life partner, get married, children

•Body reaches physical peak around 25-30, followed by a steady decline thereafter

•Essentially period of maintenance and repair

•Middle Adulthood: 40 – 65 years

Characterised by:

•Stability in work and relationships

•Further development of identity

•Financial security

•Physical signs of aging, and menopause

•‘Empty nest syndrome’(when children leave home)

•Late Adulthood: 65 years - death

Characterised by:

•Change in lifestyle due to retirement and financial security (for most)

•Greater participation in voluntary work and leisure activities

•Reflection on life and achievements

•Grief associated with death of friends/spouse