Major Child Development Theories and Theorists
Angela Oswalt, MSWThough many scientists and researchers have approached the study of child development over the last hundred or so years, only a few of the theories that have resulted have stood the test of time and have proven to be widely influential. Among this core group of theories are five that will serve as the basis for the documents in this series. These are:
- Freud's psychosexual stage theory
- Erikson's psychosocial stage theory
- Kohlberg's moral understanding stage theory
- Piaget's cognitive development stage theory
- Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory
Resources
Articles
- An Overview of Child Developmental Theories
- An Overview of Child Development Theories
- Developmental Channels
- Child Development Stages vs. Continuous Development
- Developmental Stages and Milestones of Child Development
- Sensitive Periods in Child Development
- Major Child Development Theories and Theorists
- Sigmund Freud and Child Development
- Erik Erikson and Child Development
- Lawrence Kohlberg and Child Development
- Jean Piaget and Child Development
- Urie Bronfenbrenner and Child Development
- Child Development Overview Summary
- Infants: Parenting and Child Development
- Early Childhood: Parenting and Child Development
- Middle Childhood: Parenting and Child Development
- Adolescence: Parenting and Child Development
- Child Mental Disorders and Illnesses
- An Overview of Child Developmental Theories
News
- Social Media, Binge Eating Often Go Together for Kids
- Stressed and Distracted, Kids and Their Teachers Say Virtual Learning Isn't Working
- Sports Position Doesn't Affect Risk of Concussion-Linked CTE Illness
- Pandemic Putting Added Strain on Parents of Kids With Cancer
- Dogs and Kids Are 'In Sync,' Study Shows
- Teachers Main Drivers of School COVID Outbreaks, So Vaccinations Needed: Study
- Tips to Keep Young Athletes Injury-Free
- Mental Illness in Childhood Could Mean Worse Physical Health Decades Later
- Kids' Robust Immune Systems May Shield Them From COVID-19: Study
- Fertility Treatments Might Affect Kids' Growth, But Not for Long
- 40 more
- Mom's Heart Health While Pregnant Could Influence Her Child's Health for Years
- Pandemic Has Affected Kids' Dental Health: Poll
- New Rabies Prevention Treatment Also Works in Kids: Study
- When Will Kids Get the COVID Vaccines?
- U.S. Schools Can Reopen, With Safeguards in Place: CDC
- Fetal Surgery Is Changing Lives for Kids With Spina Bifida
- Kids Who Got Flu Shot Had Milder COVID Symptoms: Study
- Very Little Spread of Coronavirus at Kids' Day Camps: Study
- When Kids Misbehave, 'Verbal Reasoning' Can Sometimes Backfire
- Vaccines Saved 37 Million Lives, Mostly Children, Over Past Two Decades
- Anchor It! Toppling TVs, Furniture Can Injure and Kill Kids
- Why Do Black Children Get Fewer Scans When They're Seen in ERs?
- Pandemic May Be Affecting How Parents Feed Their Kids
- Race Plays Role in Kids' Food Allergies: Study
- Too Many Kids With Special Needs Are Going Without Adequate Support
- There’s ‘A Path Forward’ to Reopening Schools, CDC Officials Say
- Kids Aren't Scared by Medical Workers' PPE, Study Finds
- Hand Sanitizer Is Harming Kids' Eyes, Often Seriously
- Kids Highly Likely to Transmit Coronavirus to Others: Study
- Kids' ER Visits for Injuries Rose During Lockdown, While Non-Injury Cases Fell
- Should Your Child Get a COVID Test?
- Climate Change Is Spurring Malnutrition in Kids Worldwide
- New Year, New Tips for Keeping Your Kids Safe and Healthy
- AHA News: Pandemic Pods Offer Social Relief, But There Are Risks
- Pediatricians' Group Says School Is Priority, With Proper Safety Measures
- Kids With Congenital Heart Disease Face Higher Odds of Mental Health Issues
- Ready to Resume Sports? Health Tips for Getting Back in the Game
- Masks Don't Mask Others' Emotions for Kids
- Could Going Vegetarian Lower Kids' Asthma Risk?
- Parents Feel the Strain as Pandemic Adds New Role: Teacher
- Involved Dads Make a Difference for Disadvantaged Teens
- Poll Charts U.S. Parents' Biggest Worries During Pandemic
- Do Genes Doom Some Kids to Obesity? Probably Not, Study Finds
- Schools, Day Care Not a Big Factor in Kids Getting COVID: Study
- Type 2 Diabetes in Youth Is Especially Unhealthy: Study
- When Sepsis Strikes Children, Black Kids More Likely to Die: Study
- New Clues to Crohn's Disease in Kids
- Kids With Dyslexia May Have Hidden Strengths
- Kids' Weight Rises When Convenience Stores Open Nearby: Study
- A Better, Safer Way to Rid Some Kids of Seizures?
Links
Videos
- Raising Children Responsibly in the Digital Age
- Having Difficult Conversations with Children
- How to help overweight kids get healthier
- Does Your Child Have the Flu or Just a Cold Video
- Positive Behavior Support: Making Clear and Effective Requests
- Monitoring and Limit Setting: Clear Rules
- Developing Brain Injuries
- Kids and Sleep
- Kids and Screen Time
- 5-2-1-0 for Kids
- 83 more
- Sleep Disorders in Children
- Bullying Prevention: Lessons from Research and Practices
- No Need to Sweat a Slight Fever
- Cutting Back on Sugar
- Kids Score High on Flu Vaccinations
- Accident Proofing Kids
- Teaching Kids to Get Moving
- Changing Mindset of Juvenile Diabetes
- Growing Up with Crohn's Disease
- Kids and Brain Strain
- Risks in Delaying Childhood Vaccinations
- New Sugar Guidelines
- Are Kids Getting Enough Sleep?
- Kids and screen time
- When to take your child to the emergency department
- Creating Safe and Supportive Schools for LGBTQ Students
- 20 Min Exercise Cuts Kid's Diabetes Risk
- Most Kid's Fevers, No Worries
- Giving Your Child’s Diet a Makeover
- Flu Vaccines for Kids
- Fevers: When it’s Time to Worry
- Help Your Child to Be Angry Better
- Five Things to Know about your Child's Fever
- Dipping into Swim Safety
- Sick Kids: Viral vs. Bacterial
- Asthma 101
- Focusing your Children on Fitness
- Parents Slow to Recognize Obese Children
- Development of the Young Brain
- Both Types of Diabetes Rising in Kids
- Monitoring and Limit Setting: Privilege Removal
- Reducing Sodium in Children’s Diets
- 3 Easy Tips to Get Children Active
- Asthma in Children: Working Together to Get it Under Control
- Peanut Allergies: A Bigger Threat to Kids with Asthma
- Preventing Pediatric Falls
- Snoring and Sleep Apnea
- Facts about the Measles (MMR) Vaccine
- Does my Child Have Asthma and How Should it be Treated?
- An Evidence-Based Approach to Youth Sports Concussions
- 7 Reasons to Be Smoke-Free
- Concussion Guide for Parents
- How Your Immune System Works
- How Muscles Work
- How the Digestive System Works
- How Your Heart Works
- Vaccines: Separating Myth from Reality
- Tough to Swallow - Tips for Kids Taking Meds
- Learning & cognitive difficulties in children: Challenges after a head injury, including concussion
- Vaccinations and Immunizations
- Sport Concussions in Youth: Community Guide for Education, Treatment and Research
- Help Your Child with Diabetes Prepare for School
- Back to School: Dr. Stephen Whiteside on Routines
- Dr. Bridget Biggs on Bullying
- Ask the Expert - No more homework battles
- Weight Control For Children: Improving Physical Activity
- Back to School: Sick Kids - Should They Stay or Should They Go?
- Back to School: Feed the Body and Brain
- Childhood Cancer facts and treatment information
- Breaking the Silence, Breaking the Cycle Honoring Youth Voices
- 6 Top Tips for Parents
- Kids With Asthma Who Are Exposed To Secondhand Smoke Have Twice As Many Hospitalizations
- Sport Concussions in Youth
- Disparities in early childhood obesity: Risk factors and possible solutions
- Exercise and Bone Health in Children and Adolescents
- Children Build Self-Esteem, Increase Confidence, Stop Bullies
- Eating and Nutrition – Tips for K-12
- Positive Parenting & Promoting Mental Health
- Immunization for all throughout life
- Childhood Obesity & Healthy Eating
- Brain & Nervous System
- Lungs & Respiratory System
- How Parents and Caregivers Can Help Kids and Teens Cope with the Increased Stressors with COVID-19
- Health Tips for Traveling Abroad with Kids
- The Long term Impacts of Bullying
- Active Games a Game Changer?
- Brain food for kids
- After-school snack ideas
- A Good Night's Slumber: Tips for Healthy Sleep Habits in Children
- Preventing Childhood Obesity
- Past Procrastination -- Get Your Kids Organized, Focused and Motivated
- Ask the Expert: Late, Lost, and Unprepared: How to Help Your Child with Executive Functioning
- Kids and Common Infections
More Information
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Related Topic Centers
Abuse
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Adoption
Autism
Child & Adolescent Development: Overview
Child & Adolescent Development: Puberty
Child Development & Parenting: Early (3-7)
Child Development & Parenting: Infants (0-2)
Child Development & Parenting: Middle (8-11)
Child Development & Parenting:Adolescence (12-24)
Child Development Theory: Adolescence (12-24)
Child Development Theory: Middle Childhood (8-11)
Childhood Mental Disorders and Illnesses
Childhood Special Education
Divorce
Family & Relationship Issues
Intellectual Disabilities
Learning Disorders
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Parenting
Self Esteem
Anxiety Disorders
Bipolar Disorder
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Depression: Depression & Related Conditions
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Eating Disorders
Impulse Control Disorders
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