Mental Development Between School and Play

11:14:37

2026-06-24

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Parenting is a delicate responsibility that involves raising children and supporting their intellectual development. Mastering this role requires respecting the individual child and relying on natural instincts. It also requires understanding the stages of development that characterize childhood, through which parents can form a clear idea of what is normal or concerning at each age. Proper upbringing means being able to help a child trust themselves and find meaning in their actions.

Parents who expect too much from their child, such as learning to read at the age of three or four, do not truly respect the requirements of that stage of development, one of the most important of which is the need to play. Play is the most suitable way for a child to learn before entering school.

Always Follow Their Development: Some children progress in a balanced manner, distinguishing between calm periods and the excitement that accompanies each developmental step. Others follow a more chaotic and confusing path, encountering various difficulties along the way. Therefore, there are signs and indicators that should never be overlooked, beginning around eighteen months of age, when the child starts giving up breastfeeding, gains greater independence, and develops a distinct personality.

At eighteen months, a child is often anxious about asserting their individuality and may strongly resist their mother's requests. Since words have little effect at this stage, the child expresses themselves through actions and behavior. Mothers should not expect much cooperation and should instead act quickly and firmly when necessary.

The second year is a period of temporary stability. The child masters language and becomes able to express all their wishes. A spirit of cooperation also develops between the child and their surroundings. However, around the age of two and a half, a challenging phase begins. The child becomes highly active and energetic, requiring constant attention. They are often contradictory in their behavior; once one request is fulfilled, they immediately demand something else. They tend to be controlling, possessive, and resistant to change. The best way to deal with this stage is through diplomacy and suggestion, such as asking, “Would you like to put your blocks away?”

This phase is followed by another stage often described as the "angelic" stage, which appears around the age of three. The child's main concern is pleasing others. They know how to express affection, cooperate, and behave gently.

Children experience many emotional changes that contribute to the development of their personality and independence. They may shift from sadness to happiness, from stubbornness to flexibility, and from instability to steadiness, until they reach the "golden age" of ten years old. At this stage, children are usually cheerful, confident, and sociable.

In conclusion, mothers should accept that their children develop naturally and sometimes need temporary relief from pressure in various areas of life. A mother's role is to guide her child toward the best path and the most positive behavior, and in doing so, she can feel happiness and fulfillment in her important role.