Four Stages Of Social Development

Social development is an essential aspect in human development process. It acts as an important factor of human behavior and ability (Albrecht, 2006). Social skills pioneered on youth maturation and development of social role in different area (Ten Dam & Volman, 2007). At different ages, the aspect of social development varies and contributes to different objective. The development that I have experienced could be briefly divided in 4 stages: development in infancy and toddlers, early childhood, middle childhood and adolescence. In the following, stages on my social development would be analyzed; the context such as family and peers that impact the development would also be discussed.

The social development in infancy and toddlers is mainly

From stage one, the social development was focused on relationship with parents. In this stage, social development would be focused on the outset of play with others and developing of social skills. In Erikson’s psychosocial theory (1950), children aged between 3 to 5 years old are in the stage ‘initiative vs. guilt’. Initiative ensues when children explore the environment on their own, ask question about the world and imagine possibilities for themselves. Initiative enhances children willingness to join in activities with peers and tackle new tasks. Play can act as a role that children can learn about their social world (Parten, 1932). In my social development, play was begun with nonsocial activity, which is unoccupied, observer behavior and solitary play. Following by parallel play, which I will play beside my brother or other children with similar toy but play it individually and not trying to influence him. Then it would come to simply social play, in which I involve in similar activities with my kinder garden schoolmates, for instance drawing, with some interaction such as smile and talk with them. At last, it was cooperative play. That was theme-based play where children take special role, like I will play the role of chief and my schoolmate act as customer so I can serve them. It creates a small social organization of children who must cooperate to achieve common goal. The act of being cooperative enhances peer sociability and facilitates the development of social skills in early