A child is a human being who has not yet reached the stage of puberty. Therefore, he is a person who is in childhood and who still has a few years to live. A person is a child from the moment they are born until they enter adolescence.
“Children’s” is a term used to describe things that are specifically intended for or related to children. It can refer to various aspects of childhood, including:
- Books: Children’s books are written and designed specifically for young readers. They often contain age-appropriate content, colorful illustrations, and simple language to engage and educate children.
- Clothing: Children’s clothing is designed to fit and cater to the needs of young children. It includes items such as shirts, pants, dresses, and shoes that are sized and styled for kids.
- Toys: Children’s toys are playthings designed to entertain and stimulate children’s imagination and development. They can range from stuffed animals and dolls to puzzles, building blocks, and electronic gadgets.
- Education: Children’s education focuses on providing age-appropriate learning experiences and resources for young learners. It includes preschool and elementary school curricula, teaching methods, and educational materials tailored to the needs and abilities of children.
- Entertainment: Children’s entertainment includes movies, TV shows, and music specifically created for young audiences. These forms of media often feature engaging characters, educational content, and themes that resonate with children.
The term “children’s” is used to identify and distinguish products, services, and experiences that are intended to cater to the interests, needs, and developmental stages of children. It helps ensure that the content or items are appropriate and suitable for young audiences.
General characteristics
The child, at birth, does not hereditarily bring with him forms of knowledge that evolved over the years with maturation. Nor can we consider the child an “amorphous mass” that is gradually shaped by the influence of the world around him.
The child builds his knowledge by interacting with the world in which he lives and his thinking grows from actions and not words. Knowledge is not something that can be given to children. It has to be discovered and reconstructed through your activities. Children learn best from concrete experiences.
By nature, children are continually active. They want to discover and make sense of their world. When they do so, they rebuild mental structures allowing them to deal with increasingly complex information.
This reconstruction of mental structures makes genuine learning possible, learning that is stable and lasting. When these structures, which are necessary, are not present, learning is superficial.
Characteristics of children from 12 to 18 months
- Less accelerated general growth, greater and better muscle coordination.
- Shows interest in all types of activities.
- They imitate.
- Understand the meaning of the words.
- Increased capacity for social contact.
- Able to distinguish repeated and rhythmic sounds.
- He has a rudimentary notion of space.
- They still do not understand the causes and consequences.
- He is egocentric.
Characteristics of 2 and 3 year old children
- Better motor coordination for both flexion and extension. Thumb control.
- More progress in the language.
- Interdependence of mental and motor activities.
- Learns mainly by imitation.
- Development of intelligence and deduction capacity.
- More developed memory.
- Accented negativity.
- Greater ability to express emotions.
- Able to dramatize (3 years).
- Observation of details.
- More developed attention.
Characteristics of children of 4 and 5 years of age
- Better coordination of large muscles. Small muscles of the hands more developed.
- Ability to pay attention for 15 – 20 minutes at 4 years old.
- Very fertile imagination.
- He has a sense of initiative.
- Affectionate
- Curious
- They can pay attention for longer periods, 20 – 40 minutes, starting at 5 years of age.
- He is more self-confident, he has the capacity for self-criticism.
- They have an interest in the world outside the house.
Characteristics of 6 and 7 year old children
- Greater neuromuscular maturation.
- Vocabulary of up to 2,500 words.
- They ask questions about everything around them.
- They have initiative.
- They better distinguish reality from fantasy.
- More sexual curiosity.
- Transition period between individualism and participation in larger groups.
- They show a certain degree of abstract thinking.
- Increases the ability to concentrate and pay attention.
- Know and use descriptive and action words.
- Greater ability to understand, discuss and confront emotional situations.
Characteristics of 8 and 9 year old children
- Greater coordination of small muscles, has greater manual dexterity.
- They have a greater ability to distinguish fact from fiction.
- Well-defined property rights.
- They begin to develop logical thinking.
- Greater ability to express your ideas, to define your problems.
- Greater ability to accept criticism and evaluate yourself.
- You are interested in belonging to a group.
- Presents independence in relation to the family.
Characteristics of children of 10, 11 and 12 years old
- Good control of large and small muscles, presents a strong increase in manual strength.
- Visual and motor coordination almost identical to that of adults.
- Enjoys measuring physical strength and skill with others.
- Presents greater ability to generalize and greater critical thinking.
- Interest in exploring and experimenting.
- He is able to plan ahead.
- They take on more responsibilities.
- Able to define and understand abstract words.
- Ability to understand logical arguments more easily.
- Greater sociability.
- New vision of the world, showing progressive maturity.