Birth to 6 months
To feel safe and secure.
Will cry when primary care giver leaves.
Shows preference for routines or items.
Starts to be orderly, even compulsive at times.
To accept nuture.
Make a lot of sounds.
To decide to live, to be.
Starts to give up beliefs about being the center of the universe.
Sometimes follows simple commands, sometimes resists.
To learn to exert power to affect relationships.
Starts learning about power relationships by watching and setting up power struggles.
To signal needs; to trust others and self and continue forming secure bonds with parents.
Wants to explore on own but be able to touch base with caregiver at will. Needs to know caregiver is still there.
Starts cooperative play.
To express anger and other feelings.
Tests behaviors: "No, I won't, and you can't make me." Tries out the use of tantrums.
To bond emotionally, to learn to trust others.
Looks at and responds to faces, especially eyes.
To communicate needs and wants more precisely.
Starts using words during middle or latter part of stage.
To discover effect on others and place in groups.
Makes friendships, a preference to play with a particular peer.
Integrate sexuality with identity, conversations, etc.
Onset of puberty.
Teaches object permanence, the concept that things still exist even when not visible.
Starts to play patty-cake and peek-a-boo.
To separate fantasy from reality.
Gathers information: how, why, when, how long, and so on.
To learn skills, learn from mistakes, and decide to be adequate.
Compares, tests, disagrees with, sets, breaks, and experiences consequences of rules.
To establish ability to think for self.
Begins cause and effect thinking, "If I touch that it will be hot."
To call for care and love.
Cries or fusses to make needs known.
To take more steps toward independence, mirroring adulthood.
Sometimes independent (holding a job) and sometimes wanting to be fed and cared for.
To emerge gradually, as a separate, independent person with own identity and values.
Learning to solve complex problems and make decisions independently and accept outcomes; separate from other's opinions or suggestions.
To accept touch.
The child wants to cuddle.
To check out family rules and learn about structures outside the family.
Belongs to same-gender groups or clubs.
To test reality, to push against boundaries and other people.
Starts to playing next to other children, but not with other children.
To explore and experience the environment.
Tastes, smells, touches EVERYTHING.
To acquire information about the world, self, body, and gender roles.
Tries on different identity roles by role-playing.