Developmental Stages from 0 months up to Death

Stages
Infancy: 06
Months Old

Infancy: 612
Months Old

Physical
development
04 Weeks
Proceeds from head
to
foot and central part
to
Extremities.
Sucks reflexively.
Visually tracks to
Midline.
Lifts head when held
Upright.
34 Months
Prone: lifts head
momentarilyrolls
from
Stomach to back.
Pulls to sit without
head
Lag.
Grasps rattle.
56 Months
Reaches for objects.
Inspects objects
with
Hands, eyes, and
mouth.
Gross Motor
69 Months
Creeps.
Sits without support.
Pulls to stand to
cruise
Furniture.
912 Months

Cognitive/language
development
04 Weeks
Smiles selectively at
Mothers voice.
Shows startle reflex
to
Sudden noise.
36 Months
Babbles and coos,
squeals
and gurgles (by 3
Months).
Anticipates food
with
Vocalization.
Laughs.

Psychosocial
development
08 Weeks
Gazes at faces
(birth).
Smiles responsively.
Uses vocalization to
Interact socially.
34 Months
Distinguishes
primary
caregivers from
others
and will react if
removed
from home.
Smiles readily at
most
people.
Plays alone with
contentment.

69 Months
Smiles and vocalizes
to
own mirror image.
Says ma-ma, dada
(nonspecific).
Shakes head no-no.

69 Months
Discriminates
strangers
(e.g., frowns, stares,
cries).
Stranger/separation
anxiety begins.
Actively seeks adult

Crawls on all fours.

Attains sitting
position
Unaided.
Stands momentarily.
Takes first steps.
Fine Motor
69 Months
Transfers objects
hand to
hand.
Bangs with spoon.
Finger feeds part of
meal.
Shakes bell.
912 Months
Holds, bites, and
chews a
cracker.
Grasps string with
thumb
and forefinger.
Beats two spoons
together.
Begins to use index
finger
to point and poke.

Imitates playful
sounds.
Responds to name
with
head turn, eye
contact,
and smile.
912 Months
Recognizes voices of
favorite people.
Responds to verbal
request such as
Wave
bye-bye.
Calls parent Mama
or
Dada.
Repeats
performances
that are laughed at.
Plays peekaboo.

attention; wants to
be
picked up and held.
Plays peekaboo.
Rarely lies down
except
to sleep.
Pats own mirror
image.
Chews and bites on
toys.
Begins to respond to
own
name.
912 Months
Social with family,
shy
with strangers.
Begins to show sense
of
humor.
Becomes aware of
emotions of others
1215 Months
Shows strong
dependence
on primary caregiver
with
increasing difficulty
separating.
Shows difficulty
quieting
and relaxing into
sleep.
Wants to have
caregiver
nearby all the time.
Gives toy to adult on
request.
Shows sense of me
and
mine.

Toddler Years: 12
18 Months Old

Gross Motor
1218 Months
Walks alone.
Stoops and stands up
again.
Climbs up on
furniture.
Walks up stairs with
help.
Fine Motor
1218 Months
Builds tower of 2
cubes.
Scribbles
spontaneously
or by imitation.
Holds cup.
Puts raisin or pellet
in

1215 Months
Jabbers
expressively.
Communicates by
gesture.
Vocalizes more than
cries
for attention.
Understands word
no.
Shakes head to
indicate no.
Says 23 words
other
than ma-ma or dada.
Looks in appropriate
place when asked
(e.g.,

1518 Months
Begins to distinguish
you and me.
Imitates adult
activities.
Interested in
strangers,
but wary.
Does not respond
well to
sharp discipline.
Does not respond to
verbal persuasion
and
scolding.
Expressed autonomy
through defiance.
Plays alone or beside
other children.
Strongly claims
mine.
Follows simple
requests.
1215 Months
Shows strong
dependence
on primary caregiver
with
increasing difficulty
separating.
Shows difficulty
quieting
and relaxing into
sleep.
Wants to have
caregiver
nearby all the time.
Gives toy to adult on
request.
Shows sense of me
and
mine.

Toddler Years: 18
24 Months Old

bottle.
Turns book pages, 2
3 at
a time.
Holds spoon.
Self-Help
1215 Months
Feeds self with
fingers.
Removes hat, shoes,
and
socks.
Inhibits drooling.
1518 Months
Chews most foods
well.
Opens closed doors.
Holds cup and drinks
with some spilling.
Imitates housework.
Brings familiar
object
upon request.
Gross Motor
1824 Months
Runs stiffly.
Pushes and pulls
large
objects.
Carries large teddy
bear
while walking.
Points to pictures in
books.
Points to one body
part
on request.
Has vocabulary of 20
Wordsmostly
nouns.
Moves about house

Where is the
book?).
1518 Months
Vocalizes no.
Has vocabulary of
1015
words.
Fluently uses jargon.
Points and vocalizes
to
indicate want

1824 Months
Points to pictures in
books.
Points to one body
part
on request.
Has vocabulary of 20
wordsmostly nouns
Understands yours
versus mine.
Uses the words me
and
mine.
Enjoys simple
stories.
Speaks in 2-word
sentences (e.g.,
juice
gone).

1518 Months
Begins to distinguish
you and me.
Imitates adult
activities.
Interested in
strangers,
but wary.
Does not respond
well to
sharp discipline.
Does not respond to
verbal persuasion
and
scolding.
Expressed autonomy
through defiance.
Plays alone or beside
other children.
Strongly claims
mine.
Follows simple
requests.
1824 Months
Moves about house
without constant
supervision.
Plays primarily
alongside
children but not with
them. Has temper
tantrums in
situations of
frustration.
Is conscious of
family as a
group.
Enjoys role playing.
Mimics real-life
situations
during play.
Claims and defends

Toddler Years: 24
30 Months Old

without constant
supervision.
Plays primarily
alongside
children but not with
them.
Comes downstairs on
bottom or abdomen.
Seats self in small
chair.
Builds tower of 46
cubes.
Tries to fold paper
imitatively.
Wiggles thumb.
Places rings on
spindle
toy.
Turns pages singly.
Turns knobs
(television).
Self-Help
Helps dress and
undress
self.
May indicate wet or
soiled diapers.
Pulls person to show.
Asks for food and
drink
by vocalizing and
gesturing.
Uses spoon with
little
spilling.
Replaces some
objects
where they belong
Gross Motor
2430 Months
Jumps in place.
Walks on tiptoe

ownership of own
things.
Begins to call self by
name.
Discriminates
between
edible and inedible
substances

2430 Months
Often calls self by
first
name.

2430 Months
Initiates own play
activities.
Want routines just

Toddler Years: 30
36 Months Old

(imitation).
Walks up and down
steps,
both feet on each
step. Walks
backward.
Runs headlong.
Fine Motor
Holds pencil with
thumb
and forefingers.
Zips and unzips.
Builds tower of 68
cubes.
Self-Help
Learning to use
buttons,
zippers, and buckles.
Pulls on socks.
Pulls on pants or
shorts.
Drinks from cup
without
spilling.
Helps put things
away.
Toilet training in
progress.
Gross Motor
3036 Months
Builds tower of 68
cubes.
Completes 3-piece
form
board.
Fine Motor
Turns book pages
singly.
Holds pencil with
thumb
and forefingers.
Can zip and unzip.

Speaks 50 or more
words.
Has vocabulary of
300
words.
Uses phrases and 3to
4-word sentences.
Understands and
asks for
another.
Points to 4 body
parts.

so.
Does not like change
in
routine.
Cannot wait or delay
gratification. Does
not share.
Knows identity in
terms
of sex and place in
the
family.
Observes other
children
at play and joins in
for a
few minutes.

3036 Months
Verbalizes toilet
needs.
Uses plural.
Increases use of
verbs.
Begins using
adjectives
and prepositions.
Has vocabulary of
900
1,000 words (36
months).
Uses verbal

3036 Months
Begins playing with,
as
opposed to next to,
others.
Names or points to
self in
photos.
Joins in nursery
rhymes
and songs.
Likes praise.
Dawdles.
Has auditory fears

Preschool Years: 3
Years Old

Self-Help
Toilet training in
progress.
Dresses with
supervision.
Eats with fork and
spoon.
Pours from one
container
to another.
Gets drink
unassisted.
Avoids simple
hazards.
Gross Motor
Gallops.
Balances on one foot
(15
seconds).
Catches large ball,
arms
flexed.
Hops on one foot (3
times).
Turns somersaults.
Shows lack of
coordination (3
years)
stumbling, falling.
Fine Motor
Copies circle.
Imitates cross.
Builds with Legos,
bristle
blocks, etc.
Builds tower of 10
cubes.
Spontaneously
draws.
Handedness may
shift.
Imitates snipping

commands.
Gives full name when
asked.
Asks Whats that?

(noises).
Shows sympathy,
pity,
modesty, and shame.

Receptive Language
Follows two
unrelated
commands.
Has concept of 2 or
3.
Identifies same
versus
different with
pictures.
Responds to verbal
limits
and directions.
Identifies 23
colors.
Listens attentively
to
short stories.
Chooses objects
that are
hard/soft,
heavy/light,
big/little.
Expressive Language
Converses in
sentences.
Speaks intelligibly.
Answers simple

Is ready to conform
to
spoken word.
Begins to take turns.
Plays simple group
games.
Toilets self during
the day.
Shows fear (visual
fears,
heights, loss of
parents,
nightmares).
Uses language to
resist.
Is able to bargain
with
adults.
Tries to please.
May masturbate
openly.
May have imaginary
playmates.
Plays most often
with,
as opposed to next
to,
others.

with
scissors.

yes/no
questions.
Rote counts to 5.
Repeats nursery
rhymes.
Counts 23 items.
Has 5075%
articulation
of consonants.
Has vocabulary of
1,500
words (age 4 years).
Tells age using
fingers.
Cognitive
Uses words for
ordering
perceptions and
experiences.
Understands past
versus
present.
Shows curiosity;
asks
endless questions.
Matches colors (2 or
3).
Completes 6-piece
puzzles.
Answers sensibly to
Why
do we have stoves?
etc.
Tells a simple story

Shares upon request.

Preschool Years: 4
Years Old

Gross Motor
Runs smoothly,
varying
speeds.
Hops on one foot (4
9
times).
Balances on one foot
(8
10 seconds).
Bounces ball with
beginning control.
Throws ball
overhand.
Handles stairs with
alternating feet
using rail.
Fine Motor
Copies cross and
square.
Attempts to cut on
straight line.
Has established
hand
dominance.
Writes on page at
random.
May try to print own
name.
Draws personarms
and
legs directly from
head

Understands
opposite
analogies.
Follows 3-stage
commands.
Listens eagerly to
stories.
Follows directions
with
prepositions (e.g.,
above, under).
Expressive Language
Uses all parts of
speech
correctly.
Has vocabulary of
2,000plus words.
Uses color names.
Defines words in
terms of
use (e.g., car, pencil).
Asks many questions
(e.g., why, what,
how).
Has 100% production
and use of
consonants.
Corrects own errors
in
pronunciation of new
words.
Has sense of humor
and
self-laughing.
Loves silly songs,

Is dogmatic and
dramatic.
Shows urge to
conform/
please is diminished.
May have control
issues.
May be physically
aggressive.
Is self-sufficient in
own
home.
Has nightmares.
May argue, boast,
and
make alibis.
Calls attention to
own
performance.
Bosses and criticizes
others.
Rarely sleeps at nap
time.
Separates from
mother
easily.
Often has special
friend.
Prefers peers to
adults.
Washes face,
brushes
teeth, and dresses
self.
Uses bathroom
unassisted.

Preschool Years: 5
Years Old

Gross Motor
Balances on one foot.
Skips smoothly.
Uses roller skates.
Rides bicycle with
training wheels.
Balances on tiptoes.
Fine Motor
Handedness firmly
established.
Colors within lines.
Cuts on line.
Copies circle, square,
and
triangle.
Is not adept at
pasting or
gluing.
Draws within small
areas.
Ties knot in string
after
demonstration.

names.
Increasing use of
imagination.
Enjoys dress-up play.
Is interested in time
concepts (e.g.,
yesterday,
hour, minute).
Identifies several
capabilities.
Rote counts to 10.
Counts 4 items.
Categorizes animals,
food, toys.
Matches geometric
forms.
Identifies missing
part.
Receptive Language
Listens briefly to
what
others say.
Understands 6,000
words.
Categories words.
Guesses object by
attribute or use of
clues
(e.g., What
bounces?).
Points to first and
last in
a line-up.
Expressive Language
Has vocabulary of
2,500plus words.
Repeats days of the
week
by rote.
Defines words and
asks

Enjoys small group

cooperative play
often
noisy.
Listens and
participates in
20-minute group
activity.
Knows when certain
events occur.
Accepts adult help
and
supervision.
Is serious,
businesslike,
and self-assured.
Wants to help and
please
adults.
Enjoys competitive
exercise games.
Fears parental loss,
thunder, and scary
animals.

for word meanings.

Acts out stories.
Gives rhyming word
after
example.
Cognitive
Is often ready to
enter
kindergarten.
Appreciates past,
present,
and future.
Can count 6 objects
when
asked, How many?
Begins to enjoy
humorous stories
and slapstick
humor.
States address, age,
name,
and ages of siblings.
Acts out stories.
Learns left from
right.
Matches 1012
colors.
Predicts what will
happen
next.
School Milestones
Prints first name and
simple words.
Writing is mostly
capital
letters.
Frequently copies
left to
right.
Reversals are
common
(e.g., writes b as d).

More conscious of
body,
wants.
Respects peers and
their
property.

Elementary School
Years: 6 Years Old

Gross Motor
Is constantly active.
Shows smooth and
coordinated
movement.
Stands on one foot,
eyes
closed.
Has good balance
and
rhythm.
Bounces ball with
good
control.
Hops through
hopscotch
course.
Fine Motor
Ties own shoes.
Makes simple,
recognizable
drawings.

Reads letters in
sequence.
Recognizes first
name.
Recognizes several
or all
numerals on clock,
phone, calendar.
Counts and points to
13
objects.
Writes 110 poorly
many reversals.
Adds and subtracts
using
5 fingers.
Is capable of selfcriticism.
Receptive Language
Uses picture
dictionary.
Knows category
labels.
Defines and explains
words.
Expressive Language
Identifies likeness
and
differences between
objects.
Identities consonant
sounds heard at
beginning of words.
Gives category
labels.
Likes to use big
words.
Shows increasingly
symbolic language.
Cognitive
Development
Names all colors.

Has poor ability to

modulate feelings.
Enjoys performing
for
others.
Has difficulty
making
decisions.
Dawdles in daily
routines
but will work beside
adult
to complete tasks.
Shows jealousy of
others;
very competitive.
Plays simple table
games.
Often insists on
having
own way.
Is easily excited and
silly.
Persists with chosen

Knows what number

comes after 8.
Understands
quantity up
to 10.
Identifies
similarities and
differences among
pictures.
School Milestones
Begins to recognize
words.
Matches words.
Identifies words by
length
or beginning
sound/letter.
Rereads books many
times.
Prints first and last
name.
Invents spelling.
Reverses two-digit
numbers (e.g., writes
13 as 31).
Rote counts to 30 or
higher.
Adds amounts to 6.
Subtracts amounts
within 5.
Uses simple
measurement.
Names coins; states
values of
a penny, dime, and
nickel.
Writes slowly and
with
effort with mixed
capital
and lowercase
letters.

activities.
Goes to bed
unassisted
but enjoys goodnight
chat.
Frequently
frustrated
may have tantrums.
May return to thumb
sucking, baby talk,
etc.
Responds better to
praise
of positive behaviors
versus focus on
negative
behaviors.
Often takes small
things
from others and
claims
they found them.
Begins to distinguish
right and left on
self.

Elementary School
Years: 7 Years Old

Gross Motor
Shows variability in
activity level.
Rides bicycle.
Runs smoothly on
balls
of feet.
Fine Motor
Has well-developed
small
muscles.
Has well-developed
hand-eye
coordination.
Draws triangle in
good
proportion.
Copies vertical and
horizontal diamonds.

Speaks fluently.
Uses slang and
clichs.
Understands causeeffect
relationships.
Recites days of week
and
months of year.
Talks about own
feelings
in retrospect.
Often seems not to
hear
when absorbed in
own
activity.
Shows concrete
problem
solving.
Organizes and
classifies
information.
Learns best in
concrete
terms.
Shows interest in
issues of
luck and fairness.
Internal sense of
time
emerging.
School Milestones
Shows increasing
reading
vocabulary.
Shows greater speed
with
writing.
Begins to selfmonitor
reversal errors (e.g.,

Shows independence
in
completion of
routines.
Is learning to screen
out
distractions and
focus on
one task at a time.
Becomes quiet and
sullen
when angry.
Has better control
of
voice and temper.
Sets high
expectations
for self; frequently
disappointed by own
performance.
Is anxious to please
others; sensitive to
praise
and blame.
Has not learned to
lose
games; will cheat or
end
game abruptly.
May have little sense
of
humor; thinks others
are
laughing at him/her.
Is considerate of
others.
Is concerned about
right
and wrong.

Elementary School
Years: 8 Years Old

Gross Motor
Shows rhythmical
and
somewhat graceful
movement.
Has frequent
accidents
due to misjudging
abilities
(e.g., broken arm).
Holds pencil,
toothbrush,
and tools less
tensely.
Enjoys exercise of
both
large and small
muscles.

writing b rather than

d).
Learns to solve
addition and
subtraction
combinations.
Learns to tell time.
Easily expresses and
communicates.
Is often out of
bounds
verbally (e.g.,
boasting,
exaggerating,
sharing
private information).
Likes to use big
words.
Reading
Shows variable
enjoyment of
reading.
Likes humor in
stories.
Reads new words
through
context and phonics.
Stops and talks
about
what he or she
reads.
Omits words and
reads
out of order.
Prefers silent
reading.
Arithmetic
Knows addition and
subtraction
combinationssome
by heart.
Learning to carry in

May be selfish and

demanding of
attention.
May be cheerful.
Is curious about
activity
of others.
Learning to lose at
games.
Is sensitive to
criticism,
especially in front of
others.
Shows strong
interest in
own past (e.g.,
stories,
baby books, life
books).
Begins to have sense
of
humor for own jokes
or
riddles.
May be snippy and
impatient in talk with
family members.

Elementary School
Years: 9 Years
Old-10 Years Old

Gross Motor
Becomes interested
in
competitive sports
social aspects of
sports.
Apt to overdo
physical
activities.
Shows poor posture
(e.g.,
slouches, head close
to
work).
Works purposefully
to
improve physical
skills.
May have somatic
complaints (e.g.,
stomachache,
dizziness,
leg pains)
Girls and boys tend

addition.
Learning to borrow
in
subtraction.
Knows a few
multiplication facts.
Knows and .
Interested in money.
Written Language
Writes sentences.
Begins cursive
writing.
Shows few reversal
errors.
Uses capital and
lowercase letter
forms.
Tries to write neatly
Gains proficiency in
reading, writing.
Works and plays
hard.
Frequently discusses
reproduction with
friends.
Associates scary
daytime
events with
frightening
dreams.
Enjoys school; wants
to
operate at optimal
level
and may relate fears
and
failure more strongly
to
subject than to
teacher.
Can describe
preferred

Appears emotionally
more stable.
Experiences quick,
short-lived emotional
extremes.
Mostly cooperative,
responsible, and
dependable.
Capable of
concentrating
for several hours.
Likes to plan ahead.
Is increasingly
attentive
to peer pressure.
Begins to
subordinate
own interests to
group
purpose.
May take up
collecting
hobbies.
Learns to lose at

to be
even in size and
sexual
maturity (early in
10th
year).
Girls bodies undergo
slight softening and
rounding at 10.
Has decreasing
somatic
complaints.
Is increasingly
fidgety
more common for
girls.
Shows little
awareness of
fatigue.
Strongly refuses
bathing.
Loves outdoor
exercise
play (e.g., baseball,
skating, jumping
rope,
running).

methods of learning.
Likes to read for
facts and
information.
Enjoys keeping a
diary
and making lists.
Prefers to read
silently.
Usually prefers
written to
mental computation.
Worries about doing
well
in school.
Participates in
discussion of
social and world
problems.
Interest in reading
varies
greatly by child.
Shows humor that is
broad, labored, and
often
not funny to adults.
Repeats dirty
jokes to
parent, but often
does not
understand them.
Interested in his or
her future as a
parent and how he
or she will treat own
child.
Rarely interested in
keeping a diary.
Mostly interested in
material possessions,
health and happiness
for

games.
Begins to be neater
about
own room.
Chooses member of
own
sex for special
friend.
Overtly criticizes
opposite
sex.
Makes decisions
easily.
Responds relatively
easily
to discipline.
Seems relaxed and
casual;
describes self as
real
happy.
Boys show friendship
with physical
expression
(e.g., punch, shove,
wrestle).
Girls show friendship
with note writing,
gossip,
and hand-holding.
Enjoys sharing
secrets
and discussing
mysteries
with friends.
Believes friends over
parents.
Does not respond
well
when praised or
reprimanded in front
of friends.

self and others, and

personal
improvement.
Enjoys memorizing.
Prefers oral to
written
work in school.
Shows short
interest
spanneeds
frequent
shift of activity in
school.
Is decreasingly
interested
in movies and
television.

Early Adolescence:
Beginning Age, 11
13 Years Old

Females
Pubic hair
pigmented,
curled.
Auxiliary hair begins
after
pubic hair.
Height growth spurt.
Breast development
continues.
Labia enlarged.
Increase in
subcutaneous
fat.
Menstruation begins.
Males
Prepubescent
physical
development.
Beginning growth of
testes, scrotum, and
penis.
Downy pubic hair.

Begins to move from

concrete toward
abstract
thinking (reasoning
based on hypotheses
or
propositions rather
than
only on concrete
objects
or events).
Increasingly
interested in
ideas, values, social
issues; often narrow
in
understanding and
dogmatic.
Is very interested in
music and personal
appearance
especially
common for females.

Shows infrequent
and
soon-resolved anger.
Yells and calls names.
Rarely cries except
with
hurt feelings.
Tends to have
sincere,
trusting, and
physically
affectionate
relationship
with mother.
Tends to have
positive,
adoring, admiring
relationship with
father.
Is anxious about
peer
acceptance.
Is concerned with
selfidentity.
Depends on family
but
increasingly tests
limits.
Establishes
independence
through conflicts
with
peers and family.*
Is egocentric.
Has abrupt mood and
behavior swings.
Females highly
concerned
with body image,
physical
changes.
Increasingly

Consistent height
growth

Midadolescence:
Beginning Age, 13
15 Years Old

Females
Pubic hair fully
developed.
Auxiliary hair in
moderate quantity.
Continued breast
growth.
Menstruation well
established.
Decelerating height
growth.
Ovulation (fertility).
Moderate muscle
growth
and increase in
motor
skills.
Males
Pubic hair
pigmented,

Has increasing
conflict
with family
however,
most place strong
value
on family and
involved
parents.

Shows fully
developed
abstract thought
(usually
by age 15) and can
apply
in more situations.
Anxiety, major
distractions
interfere with
abstract thinking
Has continued
interest in
ideas, ideals, values,
social issues.

interested in
peers and peer
culture.
Changes in friends
are
common.
Has same-sex
relationships most
often,
although has
concerns,
anxiety, and
experimentation with
opposite sex.
Has strong needs for
achievement and
recognition of
accomplishment,
although may
be masked by
feigned
indifference.
Increasingly
independent
from family; less
overt
testing.*
Females somewhat
more
comfortable with
body
image and changes.
Males highly
concerned
with body image and
changes as puberty
begins.
Shows increase in
relationships with
opposite sex; samesex
relationship

curled.
Auxiliary hair begins
after
pubic hair.
Penis, testes, and
scrotum
continue to grow.
Height growth spurt.
Seminal emissions
but
sterile.
Voice lowers as
larynx
enlarges.
Mustache hair.

Late Adolescence:
Beginning Age, 15
16 Years Old

Females
Full development of
breasts and auxiliary
hair.
Decelerated height
growth (ceases at 16
years
13 months).
Males
Facial and body hair.
Pubic and auxiliary
hair
denser.
Voice deepens.
Testes, penis, and
scrotum continue to
grow.
Emissions of motile
spermatozoa

continues to
dominate.
Is reliant on and
anxious
about peer
relationships.
May experiment with
drugs.
Concerned with
achievement,
experiences, feelings
of
accomplishment,
receiving
recognition.*
Continues to be
interested in
appearance,
music, and other
elements of peer
culture.

Shows wellestablished
abstract thinking.
Makes
applications to own
current and future
situations and to
broader
issues (e.g., social
concerns, academic
studies).

May show increase in

anxiety and
avoidance
behaviors as a major
emancipation step
becomes
imminent (e.g.,
graduation,
moving out of the
house,
going to college,
partial or
total self-support).*
Increasingly
concerned
and interested in
movement towards
independence;
generally not

(fertility).
Graduated
deceleration
of height growth
(ceases
by 17 years 10
months).
Muscle growth and
increase in motor
skills.

prepared emotionally
or
logistically for
complete
emancipation.
Maintain more stable
relationships with
peers
and adults.
Has reasonably wellestablished body
image,
especially among
girls.
Has more realistic
and
stable view of self
and
others and nature of
problems and is
better at
problem solving.
Has continued need
for
achievement and
recognition for
accomplishment.

Post adolescence:
Beginning Age, 17
18 Yesars Old

Females
Uterus develops
fully by
age 1821.
Other physical
maturation complete.
Males
Full development of
primary and
secondary
sex characteristics;
muscle
and hair development
may continue.

Abilities for
abstract
thinking and for
practical
problem-solving skills
are
increasingly tested
by the
demands associated
with
emancipation and/or
higher education.

Early (Young)
Adulthood 20s and
lasts through the
40s

Physical strength
typically peaks in
early adulthood
(the 20s and 30s)
Although physical
changes are minimal
during this
phase , the weight
and muscle mass
change as a
result of diet ,
exercise ,pregnancy
and lactation.
Growth and
strength in early
adulthood, then slow
process of decline
afterwards
Speed and
endurance

Piaget believed that

the formal
operational stage
(ages 11 to 15) is the
highest stage of
thinking
Adults gain
knowledge, but ways
of thinking are the
same as those of
adolescents
Some researchers
disagree with Piaget
and believe that
thinking in
early adulthood
becomes more
realistic and
pragmatic
Post-formal thought

Is partially or fully
emancipated,
although
often with difficulty.
Shows decreased
concerns about
autonomy and
increased
concerns about
resources.
Often has less
conflictuals
relationships with
family;
existing conflict
tends to
revolve around
emancipation issues.
Still directs
attention toward
peers and selfidentity.
In his theory of
psychosocial
development, Erikson
described two
fundamental themes
that dominate
adulthood: love and
work
During early
adulthood,
individuals enter
Erikson's intimacy
versus isolation
stage (developmental
task of forming
intimate
relationships with
others or becoming
socially
isolated)

Vision and ability to

see in weak lighting
Hearing and
detection of tones
Taste intact until
later in life; men
tend to lose hearing
and
taste earlier than
women
Decline affected
by health and
lifestyles

- thought that is
reflective,
relativistic, and
contextual
provisional
Realistic, their
idealism decreases
Emotion &
subjective factors
can influence
thinking
Late adolescence to
early adulthood is
the main age window
for
wisdom (expert
knowledge about the
practical aspects of
life that
permits excellent
judgment about
important matters).

Independence :
separation from
family of origin
Learn to function
without using
parents as major
source
of comfort, security,
direction
Establish sense of
equality with
parents
Develop adult
friendships
Becoming a Parent
Advantages of
Having Children
Early:
Parents are likely to
have more physical
energy
Mother is likely to
have fewer medical
problems with
pregnancy and
childbirth
Parents may be less
likely to build up
expectations for
their children
Advantages of
Having Children
Later:
Parents will have had
more time to
consider life goals
Parents will be more
mature and will
benefit from their
life
experiences
Parents will be

Middle Adulthood
40 years of age to
about 65

Height reaches a
maximum during the
20s for most
people, and remains
stable till about age
55.
After age 55, bones
become less dense
and ultimately
women lose 2 inches

Some intellectual
abilities decline in
middle age, but
others increase
Crystallized
intelligence
[acquired store of
information,
skills, strategies]
increases in middle

better established in
their careers and
typically have more
incomer.
Friendships
The focus of adult
friendships is
somewhat
different for men
and women
Female friends tend
to:
confide in one
another about their
feelings,
problems, and
interpersonal
relationships
Male friends
typically:
minimize discussions
about relationships
or personal
feelings or problems;
Instead, male
friends tend to do
things together
that they find
mutually interesting,
such as activities
related to sports or
hobbies
Generativity versus
stagnation Eriksons
seventh stage, in
which individuals
leave a legacy
of themselves to the
next generation
(generativity)
Active involvement in

and men lose 1 inch

in height.
People get shorter
with aging due to
bone loss in their
vertebrae
Weight typically
drops after we reach
age 50; likely
because we lose
muscle
Joint stiffness and
difficulty of
movement usually
accompany a
progressive loss of
bone in middle age
Vision:
Decline in vision
becomes more
pronounced
Adaptation to dark
and driving at night
becomes
especially difficult
Color vision may
decline as a result of
the
yellowing of the lens
of the eye
Eye lenses become
hard and cannot
accommodate for
near vision; result is
farsightedness in
many people by age
45
(presbyopia or old
eye)
Hearing in Middle
Age
Hearing undergoes a

adulthood
Fluid intelligence
[ability to deal with
new situations]))
begins to decline in
middle adulthood

teaching/guiding the
next
generation
Stagnation involves
not seeking outlets
for
involvement / being
self-centered.
Guiding the next
generation, or
improving society in
general or may be
self- centered,
isolated and
unable to participate
meaningfully in the
world.
Grand parenting
Many adults become
grandparents during
middle age
Three prominent
meanings:
Source of biological
reward & continuity
Source of emotional
self-fulfillment
Three Grand
parenting styles:
Fun-seeking style
Distant-figure style
Formal style

gradual decline
beginning
in middle adulthood.
The primary sort of
loss is for sounds of
high
pitched, a problem
called Presbyopia.
Men are more prone
to hearing loss than
women.
Because the two
ears are not always
equally
affected by hearing
loss, sound
localization, the
ability to detect the
origin of a sound, is
diminished.
Some (but not all)
hearing problems can
be
corrected by hearing
aids
The Female
Climacteric &
Menopause
Starting about age
45, women enter a
period known as
the FEMALE
CLIMACTERIC, the
transition from
being
able to bear children
to being unable to do
so.
This period lasts
about 15 to 20 years.
The most notable
sign is MENOPAUSE,

the
cessation of
menstruation.
The production of
estrogen and
progesterone drop.
Symptoms such as
"hot flashes",
headaches, feeling
dizzy, heart
palpitations, and
aching joints are
common during
menopause.
Half of women
report no symptoms
at all.
Men in Middle Age
(Andropause), the
period of physical
and psychological
change relating to
the male
reproductive system
that occurs
during late middle
age.
The most common is
the enlargement of
the prostate gland.
Symptoms are
problems with
urination, including
difficulty
starting to urinate
and frequent need to
urinate during the
night.
Men still produce
sperm and can
father children
through middle

age.
Mortality Rates
Chronic diseases are
the main cause of
death during middle
adulthood
Leading cause of
death is heart
disease
Second leading
cause is cancer
Cerebrovascular
disease is the third
leading
cause
In the 1st half of
middle age, cancer
claims
more lives than
heart disease; trend
is
reversed during the
2nd half of middle
age
Men have higher
mortality rates than
women

Late (Old)
Adulthood to death

The Heart
The arteries
harden; The blood
vessels shrink
Reduction in the
capacity of the
heart to pump blood
throughout the
circulatory system
A 75-year-olds
heart pumps less
than three-quarters
of

Speed of Processing:
Speed of processing
information declines
in late adulthood
Often due to a
decline in brain and
CNS functioning
Attention:
Selective attention:
focusing on a
specific aspect of
experience
that is relevant

Includes achieving
what Erikson called
Ego
Integrity :The
feeling that ones
life has been
meaningful, vs.
Despair feelings of
regrets or
bitterness about
past mistakes,
missed
opportunities, or bad

the blood it pumped

during early
adulthood
Digestive System
Produces less
digestive juice
Is less efficient in
pushing food through
the system
The result is
constipation
Physical Appearance
Wrinkles and age
spots become more
noticeable, skin loses
its elasticity &
collagen
Hair becomes
thinner and grayer
Nails become
thicker and more
brittle with
ridges
Yellowing of teeth
Sleep has more
wakeful periods,
with more
time spent lying in
bed more tiredness
in the
mornings
Diseases of the Eye:
Cataracts: a
thickening of the
lens of the eye that
causes vision
to become cloudy,
opaque, and
distorted
Glaucoma: damage
to the optic
nerve because of the

while ignoring others

that are irrelevant
Divided attention:
concentrating on
more than one
activity at the
same time
The more difficult
the tasks, the less
effectively older
adults
divide attention
Sustained attention:
readiness to detect
and respond to small
changes occurring at
random times in the
environment
Older adults
perform just as well
on simple tasks; but
performance drops
on complex tasks
Psychological &
Mental
Disorders
Depression is one of
the more common
problems
characterized by
intense sadness and
hopelessness.
May be a result of
cumulative losses in
life.
Some psychological
problems such as
anxiety
may be caused by
inappropriate drug
doses

decisions; a sense of
disappointment in
life
Life review involves looking back
on ones life
experiences and
evaluating them
Integrity versus
despair individuals
engage in a
life review that is
either positive
(integrity) or
negative (despair)
Empty Nest
Syndrome: a decline
in marital
satisfaction after
the
children leave the
home
For most parents,
marital
satisfaction actually
increases
during the years
after child rearing
Refilling of empty
nest is becoming
a common occurrence
Adult children are
returning to live
at home for financial
reasons
Loss of privacy is a
common
complaint for both
parents and
adult children
A woman become
depressed after

pressure
created by a buildup
of fluid in
the eye
Depth perception
declines.
Smell and Taste:
Smell and taste
losses typically begin
about
age 60
Touch and Pain:
Slight decline in
touch sensitivity
with age
Older adults are
less sensitive to pain
Arthritis: an
inflammation of the
joints accompanied
by pain, stiffness,
and movement
problems
Common in older
adults
Symptoms can be
reduced with:
Use of some drugs
like aspirin
Range-of-motion
exercises
Weight reduction
Osteoporosis:
extensive loss of
bone tissue lead to
became brittle &
fragile
Affects women more
often than men
Can be prevented
by:
Eating calcium-rich

Women show more

depression at 50 and
60
years of age, but
depression in men
increases
from 60 to 80
Dementia: a
progressive loss of
intellectual
functioning caused
by
repeated temporary
obstruction of
blood flow in
cerebral arteries
More common among
men with a
history of high blood
pressure
Recovery is possible
Parkinson Disease: a
chronic,
progressive disease
characterized
by muscle tremors,
slowing of
movement, and facial
paralysis
Several treatments
are available
Alzheimer Disease
Progressive
irreversible & brain
disorder. A
common form of
dementia that is
characterized by a
gradual
deterioration of
memory, reasoning,
language, and

her last child leaves

home
Friendship
Friendships have
been found to be
more important than
family
relationships in
predicting mental
health
Unmarried older
adults with a strong
network of friends
fared better
physically and
psychologically than
other unmarried
older adults
Positive Psychology
and Aging:
The more active and
involved older
adults are, the more
satisfied they
are and the more
likely they are to
stay healthy.

foods and vegetables

Having a regular
exercise program
Medication

eventually, physical
function

Project
In
Facilitating learning

Submitted to:
Ms. Myrna O. Carpio
Submitted by:
Joeana U. Velasco
BSED Physical Science 2C