Child Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Child Development - Essay Example The human life cycle is governed by natural laws. A pioneer in the field of child development, Gesell’s set of milestones for children is still widely used pediatricians, psychologists and other professionals who work with children (Wikipedia). He believed that the child’s personality is the product of slow gradual growth. The nervous system natures in stages and is a natural process. For example, the child sits before he stands and babbles before he stands. A child is initially dependent and only later attains independence. He learns to draw a circle before he draws a square. The development pattern follows the law of growth. Gesell suggested that child should not be forced into doing something but instead his growth should be guided. It is unwise to teach children ahead of their maturational schedule. This implies that the child is not ready and if he is not ready the education process must be delayed. Gesell further believed that during the preschool age there are many suggestions that physically and psychologically the child is reaching a stage of maturity. During the school period child’s vocabulary expands, learns facts and figures. During the early adolescence independence comes to the forefront. In later adolescence physiological changes take place including behavioral patterns and emotional attitudes. All the traits at every stage in human life have been associated with the history of human race (Packer). He strongly links democracy to development and advocates freedom at all stages of maturation. According to Gesell, democracy is a way of life. To inculcate the attitudes of tolerance and fair play in children, the adults need to be educated first. This implies the adults have to play role models for the children. This linear model of human development generated by Gesell’s maturational perspective was used by clinicians to predict long-term outcomes based on the developmental milestones in the early years of the child but