Second Childhood: duration and characteristics

George Alvarez 18-10-2023
George Alvarez

As you can imagine, we go through several stages of development until adulthood. Through each stage, we build the pillars we need to reach our growth peak. So, in this text, we will talk about the later childhood and how it is composed.

What is the second childhood?

Later childhood is a stage of growth where the child undergoes a social and cognitive flourishing Begun at the age of three, it indicates a recognition of the world in which you live, not to mention yourself, as you begin to absorb basic concepts of living together.

Although he grows at a less rapid pace than the previous stage, this does not apply to his development. His motor coordination and primary actions are largely polished and improved. Thus, his thinking, speaking, remembering, and acting are executed in a more developed and effective way in terms of his goals.

Because of this, that care must be adequate and never sloppy. Providing everything that it needs must be a key element in order for it to reach its potential. After all, we are talking about the growth of an individual in the making.

Second Childhood Characteristics

The process of later childhood is more complex because of the long time it takes to start and finish, requiring years. This is enough for children to learn everything that is necessary for their development Among the infinite possibilities in this range, we can mention:

  • development of responsibility;
  • independence;
  • desire to exploit.

So now let's learn more about each of these learnings that children have during childhood.

Development of responsibility

Even at the age of three, a young child already begins to understand the weight of his actions. Instead of just assimilating the sound strokes, he begins to identify the basis behind that commandment. For example, the act of putting away toys, keeping cleaner, eating when he feels hungry, among other things.

Independence

Many parents go crazy when their children start running loose in the house. It turns out that this is a natural and necessary movement for the child to develop as he should. Making him more independent will give him more autonomy so that he can make his own decisions when necessary.

Desire to exploit

In addition to the above, the child in this period is usually very active and curious. Through his senses, he will explore the nature of the world to try to understand it. So don't be alarmed if she wants to get dirty, play in the rain, or start new games, because she is testing and discovering herself. .

Talking to yourself can be a search for a solution

Surely, you may have found your child talking to himself while playing, correct? Although the speech may seem disconnected at times, it is his personal study of the world. Talking to himself may indicate that the little one is searching for a solution out loud.

With this, it is possible to see that this child is already feeding his thoughts in a more critical way. She has already understood that some things are more difficult and need effort to happen .

Parents need to help in this regard as a form of exercise for the child. Later on, when it is better formed, it will find it easier to resolve some of the issues of its day. Imagine where this child can go if it develops fully?

See_also: Can psychoanalysts practice? What can they do?

Disorders

A later childhood is marked by some disturbances that make parents very worried about their children. Although many don't know it, these kinds of reactions are natural and part of the process. If the child doesn't learn to control them, they will pass by themselves as the child grows up.

For example, many children have enuresis, which is peeing in their sleep. Although some leave it later, they can move away from this behavior naturally and intuitively In this case, they may pee before they sleep, not drink as much water at night, or use diapers, depending on their age.

In addition, many have nightmares, sleepwalking, sleep terrors, or trouble sleeping. If you notice that they can't handle it on their own, outside help is more than welcome.

Read Also: Suicidal Ideation: meaning, symptoms, treatments

The role of food

We should maintain a healthy menu at any time of life, and there is no question about that. For many, doing so becomes an exhausting and difficult task because they were not taught at the right time. Early childhood is the ideal point to implement in the child healthy ideas about his daily diet .

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In this process, if the child's diet is bad, his body will develop inappropriately. Many cases of obesity are evident in the first years of life because of the child's physical and psychological constitution. Accustomed by the parents, the child will only prefer fat, sugar, and other foods saturated in salt.

In order to avoid this, teach her to prefer nutritious foods rich in vitamins and minerals early on. Don't do this thinking that you are only helping her health, but her body and mental growth. It is precisely because of positive nutrition that many children are more willing, intelligent and even happy.

See_also: Overprotective mothers: characteristics and attitudes

Cognition

Cognition is also a key part of second childhood development. The child is able to expand his thinking in order to better deal with the world around him In this way, you understand the cause and consequence relationship of actions and how this happens.

Not to mention that they can already make use of symbols at this time without needing to be near the object. It's as if they can understand the mental reference of this and imagine in their own way how to put it into practice. This includes giving this object more characteristics than it appears or actually possesses.

Finally, they are able to organize people, objects, and moments into their own categories. In this way, they are closer to understanding the idea of superficiality. Changing something superficially does not change the whole as a whole.

Motor skills in development

The development of later childhood happens in stages and over time . Beginning at the age of 3 and continuing through age 6, children have ample time to perfect themselves This is best seen by looking categorically at the:

Three years

At this age she is not yet able to turn quickly or stop abruptly. Her jumps are limited to between 35 and 60 cm, but she can already climb steps without help by alternating her feet in the process.

Four years

Here it is easier for the child to stop with more autonomy, to understand how to pull things out, and to rotate the body. Their jumps increase to a distance of 60 to 80 cm.

Five years

At this point she already has full control of the above abilities This is evident in their effectiveness in playing games and making jumps of up to 90 cm.

Final remarks about second childhood

In short, the second childhood brings true revolutions in the child's evolutionary process It is through this that the little one can expand his latent abilities so that he can understand the world.

It is because of this, that the positive intervention of parents to help this is so necessary. Give space, assistance and nurturing when it is needed for the child to learn spectacularly.

Finally, this help can be obtained through our online Clinical Psychoanalysis course. Understand this extra training as a way to open up your self-knowledge and potential, as well as a mold to do the same for your children. The second childhood stage will be incredibly enhanced by your knowledge of the human mind .

I want information to enroll in the Psychoanalysis Course .

George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.