Final answer:
The developmental tasks during infancy include establishing trust with caregivers, developing motor and sensory abilities, and beginning cognitive development. A toddler is a child who is learning to walk and talk, and early childhood development is characterized by rapid growth in many areas, including forming attachments and social bonds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Developmental Tasks During Infancy/Early Childhood
Infancy is the period of a child’s life from birth to their first birthday. During infancy, significant growth and developmental changes occur, such as increases in weight and height, maturation of sensory abilities, and the emergence of motor skills. A toddler is typically defined as a child between the ages of one and three years old, who is learning to walk and talk.
Three critical milestones of early childhood include:
- Developing basic trust versus mistrust as defined by Erikson, which emphasizes the importance of responsive, sensitive caregiving to foster a sense of trust in the world.
- The progression of fine and gross motor skills, such as grabbing objects or walking.
- Advancements in cognitive abilities, including understanding simple commands and beginning to use language.
Newborn infants also display several reflexes like the sucking and rooting reflexes, which are essential for survival. In terms of sensory abilities, infants are born with well-developed senses of touch, hearing, and smell, and can communicate through crying. As development proceeds, infants achieve many milestones sequentially, with variable timing among different infants.
Early childhood development is characterized by rapid physical, cognitive, and psychosocial growth. Attachment, which forms the primary social milestone of infancy, is seen when children form lasting bonds or connections with caregivers. It is influenced by parenting styles and can have a lasting impact on future well-being.