The Path of Child Development is Full of Change, Yet Predictable
Child Development
Child development has been studied and observed for decades. One of the most well-known researchers was Arnold Gesell (1881-1960), who set up shop at Yale as a psychologist and pediatrician. He documented patterns of growth in children, which resulted in norms still used today. While he was criticized for not seeing children as individuals, his work produced the framework for looking at physical, psychological, and cognitive growth benchmarks.
Louse Bates Ames and Frances Ilg continued his work and wrote a series of books, Your Five-Year-Old, Your Six-Year-Old, etc. If you don’t already know these books, they’re worth checking out. My favorite “users’ manual” is Chip Wood’s Yardsticks: Children in the Classroom 4-14. . Chip builds on the work of Gesell and Ames/Ilg in ways both parents and teachers find indispensable.
Having armed yourself with a solid book that can serve as your owner’s manual, be warned: kids move along the path rapidly and change, sometimes almost overnight. I remember a card I received just after my daughter was born with a Victorian painting titled “Babies Don’t Keep.” We all know they grow up, but the behaviors, attitudes, joys, and challenges just don’t keep either. It is often just about the time you figure out the what/when/where/how that works for your child and your family when you exhale and find things slipping out of control again. Gesell referred to these predictable phases as “equilibrium” and “disequilibrium.”
You know what this means – those six months when you love every minute with your happy, curious, engaging child, which is inevitably followed by a rocky phase when you wonder just what or who is inhabiting that sweet pea you love. If you have more than one child, you might have equilibrium and disequilibrium simultaneously or have a lot of one or the other. This is what keeps adults constantly climbing the learning curve of parenthood.
Children often sense the shift in their skills and needs, and their behavior, language, and emotions signal things are moving forward, even if the behavior feels like a regression. They will make you aware of these changes if you listen, watch, and are prepared to make the shift alongside of them. Let them know you notice their “growing” needs – order, independence or extra nurturing. Don’t be afraid to identify the changes you see objectively – “I see that you are using lists (or calendars, or notes). You look like you’re really becoming 7. It seems like it’s time to get you your calendar/notepad/office supplies.”
Or, on the disequilibrium side, “I notice that you are easily frustrated. Sometimes you want to be able to do more than your body is ready to do. Let’s think of ways to make you be successful with…” Or simply respect their need to work and be alone more often, to be sullen and moody without taking it personally nor making it personal about him.
Be ready to modify routines, chores, and expectations to meet your child’s needs, even if you’ve worked hard to establish those patterns. We all know life throws unexpected glitches at us, but some changes can be anticipated, predicted, and even managed well. Model an awareness and openness to address those shifts positively and purposefully. Here are some of the ages and phases Gesell identified that you can use to gauge your responsiveness to your changing child:
2, 5, 10 and 16: Rejoice in the smoothness. Yeah!
2 1/2 , 5 1/2 to 6 and 11: Expect some rough patches and be ready to pick your battles as things “break up.” Don’t take it personally.
3, 6 1/2 and 12 : Embrace the rounded and balanced feel. Life is good.
3 1/2, 7, 13, and 15: Give them extra space and quiet assurance at when they are “inwardized” and focused on themselves and their skills. For better or for worse, you’ll all survive.
4, 8, and 14: Provide the physical space and opportunities for activity when they are vigorous and expansive. Expect messes, literally and figuratively.
4 1/2, 9, and 15: Be patient and supportive during these more troubled phases, when they can be both inwardly and outwardly, trying to sort things out. Count your blessings, and stay strong.
During any of these phases and changes, consider your larger community or your family and the support those systems can offer. Do you have access to parenting classes or discussions? Peer parenting forums can provide information, opportunities to share stories and strategies, and a few good laughs. Your pediatrician or teacher might have helpful benchmarks and tips. If behaviors are stressing you, find ways to juggle parenting duties with your partner that might work better for all of you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or swap stories; none of us are in this alone.
Remember, it's a phase no matter what stage your child may be in. It’s one chapter of the wonderful story of life—life you have the power to influence in positive, responsive, and caring ways when you know a little about what to expect and are open to providing your child with what she needs when she needs it. Enjoy this stop on the path of childhood!
