Erikson's Four Developmental Tasks Of Children

Erik Erikson's four developmental tasks focus on the psychosocial aspects which children face through different periods of their life. The first development task which children encounter is Trust vs. Mistrust. Trust is having a belief in which someone or something can be relied on. Mistrust is the opposite, meaning that your reliance can't be put on someone else. The reason why establishing trust is so crucial is because children face this development during the period of infancy to 1 year of age. Beginning a life with mistrust will later affect your ability to have a healthy relationship with anyone. Trust can be established by an adult to a children by merely meeting their needs. Since this development is faced in infancy, having an adult,
Shame and Doubt are faced during the age of 1 to 3 years. Autonomy is the feeling of having some control and independence. Shame and doubt are feeling like your actions are wrong or not well enough for others' expectations. Autonomy is expressed between these years through actions such as toilet training. Letting the child have control of their body and environment around them can make a huge difference. As a caretaker, you can establish autonomy by giving some control to the child. It can be as simple as letting them take their clothes off when toilet training as well as putting them back on. This will give them a sense of control unlike yelling at them for doing it wrong or doing it too slow. Any type of yelling and correcting in a harsh manner will lead to shame and doubt which is not what the caretaker's goal should
inferiority is faced during ages 6 to 11. If established correctly it is the last development before entering adolescence. Industry is the ability to develop new skills and therefore continue to conquer more and more. Inferiority is having no action mastered to where everything seems unable to be completed to its full potential. Establishing industry allows for a sense of accomplishment and pride for the child. Parents need to allow their children to chose what sports or activities keep them fulfilled and passionate. If a child struggles with finding a passion in which they can pursue, it will lead to feeling inferior to others. As a caretaker, make sure to motivate the child when a task may be harder to compete than others they are used to. Helping your child practice basketball during the afternoons when you know they are trying to make the basketball team will help them develop the task of industry. Just allowing them to follow their passions and motivating them to not give up will establish industry. Although all four of the developmental tasks are important, without completing the first, trust vs mistrust, the others can't be fulfilled