Describe the stages of prenatal development and the significance of prenatal care
Describe infant reflexes
Explain the physical development that occurs from infancy through childhood
Explain key milestones in Piaget’s sensorimotor and preoperational stages
Explain key milestones in Piaget’s concrete operational and formal operational stages
Use your understanding of one of the major developmental theories (psychosexual, psychosocial, or cognitive) to identify strategies in response to these issues. Click on the links below to reveal possible answers.
1. Despite your efforts, your infant daughter continues to put everything in her mouth, including the dog’s food, which is making you concerned about her safety.
Possible application: According to psychosexual theory, this infant is in the oral stage of development, during which they derive pleasure from putting things in their mouth. To address this scenario, provide your daughter with safe objects to put in her mouth, such as teething toys or pacifiers, instead of trying to prevent the behavior altogether. Remove any hazardous objects that she may try to put in her mouth. This will help her fulfill her oral needs safely.
2. You are worried about your eight-year-old son who is failing math and seems to only care about baseball, causing conflict between you and him.
Possible application: Piaget’s cognitive theories suggest that children at this age are in the concrete operational stage, where they can think logically and solve problems. To help your son, you can try to make math more fun and engaging, such as by using real-life examples or turning it into a game.
3. Every morning, you engage in a twenty-minute battle with your two-year-old daughter who refuses to wear the clothes you pick for her, which is making you late for work.
Possible application: Erikson’s stage of autonomy vs. shame and doubt could apply to this scenario. It is possible that allowing the daughter to have some control over what she wears – while setting clear boundaries and expectations – might help resolve this issue.
4. Your chronically depressed sixty-eight-year-old neighbor feels like she has wasted her life, and you are struggling to find ways to lift her spirits and help her find purpose.
Possible application: According to Erikson’s theory, older adults are in the stage of integrity vs. despair and reflect on their experiences and evaluate whether they have lived a fulfilling life. To address this scenario, you could help your neighbor identify ways to reconnect with things that give her a sense of purpose and meaning. This could include finding volunteer opportunities, finding community events, and engaging in activities that align with her interests and values. Providing emotional support and empathy is important as she navigates this stage of life.
5. Your 18-year-old child has made the decision not to go to college, but instead to move to Colorado to become a ski instructor, which is causing you to worry about their future.
Possible application: Piaget’s formal operational stage suggests that individuals can think abstractly and make decisions based on their own values and beliefs. You could help your child by having an open and non-judgmental conversation about their decision, asking them about their goals and interests, and exploring alternative pathways that align with their values.
6. You are struggling with how to handle the fact that your 11-year-old son is the class bully, and you are concerned about how this behavior is affecting him and others around him.
Possible application: Piaget’s concrete operational stage suggests that children can understand cause-and-effect relationships and moral reasoning. You could help your son by talking to him about the impact of his behavior on others, encouraging him to see things from others’ perspectives, and setting clear consequences for his actions. You could also help him develop empathy by encouraging him to imagine how he would feel if someone treated him the way he treats others.