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Characteristics of Childhood Development

The special characteristics of childhood are as under:

Physical development:

Height and weight: There is a significant difference in the individual’s height and weight. At the age of twelve, the youngster stands around 56 inches tall and weighs 85 pounds.

Body proportion: It alters significantly after the child’s general look. At this point, many portions of the body begin to take on proportional size. The baby’s appearance begins to fade. The kid appears to be either a boy or a girl. The nose grows in size, and the lower jaw grows in size as well.
Muscle growth and coordination: There is quick and increased development throughout this period. The youngster increases muscular and motor abilities while developing finer muscle coordination.
Teeth: Milk teeth fall out during this era, and permanent teeth begin to emerge at the conclusion of this period.

Sense and motor organs: During this age, the child’s sense and motor organs complete growth and advancement.
Digestive system: The child’s digestive system improves in function. The youngster may consume any sort of food.

Intellectual Development:

Childhood is a phase of intellectual development in which new experiences are gained and utilised, and the mental perspective is enlarged.

Language development: By the age of twelve, the child’s vocabulary is sufficiently rich. He can complete and articulate phrases. He amasses a wealth of knowledge and information.
Inquisitive questions: The youngster attempts to pose a curious inquiry to his elders and parents in order to obtain an answer. These are more specific queries than he used to ask in his childhood.
Development of thinking power: Along with curiosity, the power of observing, reasoning, remembering, recalling, attention, and thinking grows throughout this era.

Emotional Development:

There is a time of control and stability. The youngster is now learning to regulate his emotions. He becomes enraged but does not show it. He is terrified, yet attempts to demonstrate his courage and bravery. He is still envious of his younger brother or his bright classmates, but he does not weep; his delight is shown via a grin rather than laughing. He communicates his devotion extremely subtly and only on rare occasions. He dislikes being kissed because he believes it contains sex. He dislikes being dubbed because it wounds his ego. At this point, he learns to act.

Social Development:

Social interactions broadening: At this time, the child’s social relationships broaden. The social circle is not restricted to the number of family members. He goes above and beyond the family. He befriends a significant number of students at his school. He makes an effort to get along with them. He has a higher sense of value and begins to broaden his social circle.
Learns many types of social behaviour: The kid learns numerous forms of social behaviour in the group, such as cooperation, compassion, fellow feeling, competitiveness, quarrelling, bullying, and so on. His actions are heavily impacted by the gang. He is devoted to the organisation. He cannot be forced to break the group’s standards. He is terrified of getting kicked out of the organisation if he does not demonstrate allegiance to it.

Preference for group games over individual games: At the beginning of this era, the kid freely plays with both males and girls, but towards the conclusion of this period, children prefer to play in different groups. Guys like to play with other boys, whereas girls prefer to play with other girls. Boys and females do not get along. Boys like activities such as hiking and climbing. Girls enjoy playing indoor activities.