Developmental stages Pre-natal Infancy Toddler School-age Adolescent Young adult Pre-natal: In our culture, parents-to-be spend months preparing the nursery but they don't seem to devote as much time to preparing themselves for the mental and emotional impact their new roles will have on their lives. Some of the important things to prepare for and consider are: Roles: Choosing care taking roles and responsibilities? The role of an older sibling? Decisions about work/home balance? Awareness about gender and possible stereotyping? Relationships: Preparing for change - single couple to family of three; husband & wife to mom & dad. Only child to older sibling? Sibling rivalry? Home coming: Initial home assistance? Other care-takers, relatives and friends? Older sibling? Changes: How will my social life be affected? My sexuality? back to top Infancy: Each age and stage of a child's development has specific goals and tasks. For infants, it is to eat, sleep, and explore their world. Some important things to consider are: Initial home care: home assimilation and roles & responsibilities of family members Sleep: locations and patterns Bonding and the formation of healthy attachments Positive anticipation: Knowing what to expect at various developmental stages (physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development). Understanding your child's developing personality. Early brain and language development Safety issues Introduction of literature, toys and media. Finding reliable childcare options. Going back to work? Work/life balance Addressing infant mental health needs/emotional intelligence Nutrition: How do I handle nursing, introducing whole foods, weaning? etc back to top Toddler: Between the ages of one and 3 years your child will develop crucial skills that will lay down the foundation for learning and relationships in later life. Children are doing their absolute best to learn, to imitate our modeling, and to please us. We can guide them best by learning what to expect based on their readiness. Toilet training Sleep schedules/patterns Setting limits/discipline Establishing rituals and family traditions Realistic expectations and positive anticipation Tantrums and anger management/conflict resolution Pre-school decisions and school readiness Mental health needs/emotional intelligence Nutrition Early brain and language development Media literacy and management Socialization/learning through play Sexuality Spirituality back to top School-age: During this stage a child will move from being a preschooler closely tied to the family to the expanded world of middle childhood and pre-adolescence. The social, physical and emotional journeys a child undertakes at this time can help shape the impending adolescent years. Gaining early success in the following areas areas is extremely important for a child's future success: Discipline/boundary issues Transition to school: roles for parent and child Developing good study skills for academic success Developing organizational skills Developing open communication with your child Character development Stress-free kids Socialization/learning through play Mental health needs/emotional intelligence Media literacy and management Sexuality Spirituality back to top Adolescence: The specific goals and tasks for adolescents are to become their own person with their own group of friends. Adolescents need many skills in order to successfully achieve their goal of increased independence. Some key adolescent issues to consider are: Puberty/sexuality Parent/child relationship Empowerment/boundaries Domestic responsibilities Life management (money and time) Work/school/sports balance for your teen Managing stress Dealing with peer pressure/bullying Interpersonal relationships Personal assessments High school and college choices Role modeling Emotional intelligence Nutrition Character development Media literacy and management Spirituality back to top Young adult: Young adults aged 18 and over are moving into adult roles and responsibilities. Most are learning a trade, work, and/or pursue higher education. Some things your young adult will need support with are: Career choices Searching for employment Independent living Developing adult interests, new skills, and hobbies Transforming the parent-child relationship Emotional intelligence Spirituality back to top