Stages of child development

From 0 to 1.5 years old

A child at this age depends on adults to meet their needs. They do not see themselves as separate from their parents. A child's self-image is shaped by how the caregiver treats them.

At this age, a child learns to:

• Explore the world
• Form a bond with their caregiver
• Feel loved and know they are worthy of care
• Believe that their needs matter
• Trust their environment

From 1.5 to 3 years old

Selles vanuses lapsed on aktiivsed ja pendeldavad edasi-tagasi, tahtes ühelt poolt olla iseseisvad ja teiselt poolt tunda vanemate turvalist hoolt. Ühel hetkel ütlevad nad ei ka asjadele, mida nad tegelikult tahavad, et väljendada oma võimu ja näidata, et neil on oma arvamus; järgmisel hetkel vajavad nad vanemate jäägitut armastust ja tähelepanu. Nad ei oska veel väljendada oma mõtteid, saada ise hakkama erinevate toimingutega või saada oma tahtmist ning võivad seetõttu väljendada oma frustratsiooni jonnihoogudega. 

Selles vanuses laps õpib: 

• tasapisi märkama oma tundeid ja väljendama neid sobilikul viisil 
• veelgi enam tundma ümbritsevat maailma 
• „asju omama“ – selles vanuses lapsed ei taha asju jagada, isegi kui need ei kuulu talle 
• nägema ennast vanematest eraldiseisva inimesena 
• saama üha iseseisvamaks 

From 4 to 5 years old

Children at this age are active doers. They start asking questions and try to make sense of the world. They engage in imaginative play to experiment with different roles. They enjoy participating in various activities, and some children at this age are already good communicators. They may begin to resist the rules set by their parents to test their own power.

At this age, a child learns to:

• Develop appropriate behaviors
• Understand the connection between actions and consequences
• Exercise power
• Continue exploring how the surrounding world works
• Plan and carry out different activities

From 6 to 11 years old

Children at this age ask many questions to gather knowledge about the world around them and are eager to learn new skills. They show interest in rules and explore why they are established the way they are. They enjoy seeing others follow the rules, even if they don't always follow them themselves. Children may disagree with rules, break them, or create their own—this is their way of understanding the world of rules. They learn to distinguish between wants and needs. At this age, games with clear rules also become important.

At this age, a child learns to:

• Be cooperative
• Refine their reasoning skills
• Increase their independence
• Explore the world and its principles
• Look up to an adult of the same gender as a role model
• Acquire various new skills, including social skills (especially in relationships with same-gender peers)
• Develop a sense of responsibility
• Adopt and follow rules
• Achieve mastery in more complex activities

From 12 to 18 years old

Although parents often feel anxious as their child approaches adolescence, the majority of teenagers navigate this stage with minimal stress and a strong curiosity about becoming independent. Some teenagers experience mood swings and anxiety due to the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical changes they face. The desire to separate from their parents may lead them to become critical of their parents and their beliefs. Relationships with peers, especially those of the opposite gender, and friendships within groups become increasingly important.

At this age, a teenager learns to:

• Reevaluate relationships with family members
• Relate to the opposite gender
• Explore different values and define their own
• Separate emotionally from their parents and take responsibility independently
• Reflect on and understand their identity