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Birth
Around and after birth is our critical period: an optimal period early in the life of an organism when exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces normal development
Babies need to be held so develop touch and they need to be spoken to to become familiar with language. -
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Infancy (0-1)
Social-Emotional Development:
Infancy's major social achievement is attachment. Babies learn from letting their behavior provide clues to the beginnings of their self-awareness. Charles Darwin did some research on self-awareness and found that it begins when one can recognize themselves in a mirror. It's not until 15-18 months that babies recognize that they are looking at themselves. -
Adoption
I was in my sensorimotor stage: the stage (from birth to nearly 2 years of age) at which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities.
I was also learning language at this point. I was learning from my adoptive parents as the previous 4 months of my life had been spent in a different country. -
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Toddlerhood (1-3)
Social-Emotional Development:
A toddler is figuring out how the world works and requires a lot of love and care. Negative effects will be seen if a baby is neglected or not shown love.
From the age 1-3 the toddler learns to exercise their will and do things for themselves, or they doubt their abilities.
Many infants display secure attachment which is when the infant feels comfortable with the caregiver, temporary distress when they leave, and comfort again when they return. -
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Preschool (3-6)
Social-Emotional Development:
Preschoolers experience initiative and guilt. They learn to initiate tasks and carry out plans, or they feel guilty about their efforts to be independent. At this age, the child wants to create relationships as well as practicing becoming independent. -
First day of school
At this stage I was very much into parallel play. I liked being in the company of others but at a very young age I preferred to be independent. -
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Elementary school (6-puberty)
Social-Emotional Development:
Children learn the pleasure of applying themselves to tasks, or they feel inferior. They may seem grown up but their social skills are not well developed yet.
These children need help learning social skills; they need to be talked to and led in the right direction from their superiors. They will aid in learning how to work through difficult problems. -
Moved to a new elementary school
This was a more difficult time in my early childhood. Moving school is tough for any kid but I had some struggles. I had just spent three years with a certain group of classmates and right in the middle of learning to build relationships and work with others, I was placed into a whole new environment. From public school to private and a class of 30 to a class of 15. -
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Adolescence (13-21)
Social-Emotional Development:
Teenagers work at refining a sense of self by testing roles and then integrating them to form a single identity, or they become confused about who they are.
At this age, teens find more validation and influence in their peers rather than their parents. During adolescence, parental influence decreases and peer influence increases. Teens seek out peers with similar attitudes, interests, and traits and to adopt their peers’ ways of dressing, acting, and communicating. -
First job
I held my first job at a summer camp as a counselor. Here I had kids I was responsible as well as I had to be responsible in the water as it was a swim camp. This was also the first paycheck I have ever received. I now gained another role as an employee.
I feel this experience developed me socially. I had to listen to my superiors with a higher consequence than ever before, I had my fellow counselors to meet and talk to while working, and 40+ five-six year olds that would teach me new things. -
My brother graduates high school
At this time I basically became an only child. There were a lot of changes that were made. Although this was a time where I was finding a lot of independence for myself I still felt the spotlight on me from my parents.
I was just finishing my freshman year of high school and was beginning to see more importance in what my friends thought that my parents. -
Committed to a school for college
This was a big decision that marked the end of a large process and large shift in my mindset. Just a year prior I never thought I would be a collegiate athlete. I was building my identity and found that a swimmer was something that would stick for four more years. -
Graduation from Central High School
After graduation I become more independent than I have been before. I begin living by myself and taking care of myself on my own. I will soon enter Young Adulthood. -
First day of college at Truman State
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Young adulthood (21-41)
Social-Emotional Development:
Young adults learn to form close relationships and gain the capacity for intimate love, or they feel socially isolated.
They more often define themselves in terms of their social roles, such as their occupation or being a parent. -
Graduation from college/PT school
Similar to my high school graduation, I am turning the page to a new chapter of my life. I have received all the necessary schooling and need to find a job to obtain a steady income for myself. This is all a part of my young adulthood where I am also looking for a relationship and other close relationships for myself. -
First job at an physical therapy clinic
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Buy first house
A great amount of accomplishment is associated with buying your first house. This was a good developmental marker in my young adulthood. -
Marriage
In life there is a social clock. Now, marriage has come around on my social clock. I felt like it was the right time and almost the necessary time to begin a family.
Adult bonds of love are most satisfying and enduring when marked by a similarity of interests and values, a sharing of emotional and material support, and intimate self-disclosure.
This was a commitment I was making for the rest of my life. -
Birth of 1st child
Also a part of the social clock, my first child. This is a big commitment, I am now responsible for a whole other being. This can come with a lot of emotions highs and lows. -
Birth of 2nd child
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Move to a larger house
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Middle adulthood (41-54)
Social-Emotional Development:
Middle-aged people discover a sense of contributing to the world, usually through family and work, or they may feel a lack of purpose.
Here you find a new view on life. Middle-aged adults tend to value time spent with their family and close relationships. This is because at this point most of their life is behind them. Some have argued that for many people the midlife transition is a crisis, a time of great struggle, regret, or feeling struck down by life. -
First child goes to college
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Second child goes to college
Now we are empty nesters and are coming into our late adulthood. There is a lot of time freed up where me and my husband have used to take time for ourselves and spend quality time with family and extended family. At this age you feel a greater importance for the close ones around you. -
Retirement
Late Adulthood!! A good life has been build with a steady income and good financial decisions for a long time I have set myself up for a comfortable retirement. Now it is necessary to live life how I've always wanted and to soak in every moment. Family is extremely important.
Although it is an exciting time, finally getting a chance to relax and step back, these coming years are typically one's spent unhappy at this age. -
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Late adulthood (54-death)
Social-Emotional Development:
Reflecting on their lives, older adults may feel a sense of satisfaction or failure. Older people may experience feelings of depression and isolation, as well as guilt and shame due to increasing dependency
With age, emotional stability and better coping skills are acquired. -
Lost hearing
After an extensive time using my ears for important things, my hearing starts to go. This is caused by changes in the inner ear which come with age.