Stages of Infancy

In his article, "Brain Research, Infant Learning, and Child Care Curriulum," which is included in the Exchange Continuing Education Unit Brain Research, Ron Lally describes the three stages of infancy:

"Throughout all of infancy, infants are searching for a sense of security, are  drawn to exploration of surroundings, and are carving out their own special identity. How they express these interests varies as they move through three distinct developmental stages. The young infant prospers from and seeks out secure contacts with trusted adults. The mobile infant who is starting to crawl uses this store of security as a base for this stage's overpowering interest in exploration. As children mature in late toddlerhood  to older infants, they become fascinated with how they might control their exploration, with the mine of things, the me and not me, and with many forms of identity  distinctions. Therefore, the type of care given should change when the child's stage changes. Treating the 18 month old infant the same as a six month old just doesn't work."

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