Observing children’s behaviours and accomplishments can reveal to us their current developmental priority, the learning that they instinctively know they must complete before moving forward to their next challenge. 

 

This checklist is by no means a complete or definitive list of the ways that children display their emotional and social growth, but it can be used as a general guide to help us pinpoint the key psycho-social developmental challenge they are currently experiencing.

 

Are they trying to develop trust in themselves and others? Do they feel sufficiently strong and worthy to try new things without undue distress? Have they found a balance between what they want and what others need? Are they comfortable displaying their mastery of new skills? Will they tackle more? Are they having fun in the process?

 

Understanding their current challenges helps us attune to their needs and insecurities and offer experiences that provide the appropriate context for learning and growth on the child’s part.