Age-specific periodization according to DB El'konin

For the modern psychology for a long time is not a secret the fact that a person in the process of his development and formation passes a series of stages that differ from each other in the levels:

• Physical;
• Mental;
• Spiritual;
• And intellectual development.

In other words, the process of growth and development is accompanied by certain changes in the functioning of the organism, which makes it possible to distinguish one stage from another. And these changes have a strong connection with age. This concept was called age periodization.

In their work, many scientists and personalities from psychology considered the stages of age periodization: Z. Freud, LS Vygotsky, DB El'konin. This article will consider in more detail exactly the age-related periodization of Elkonin DB - as the most popular within the framework of modern Russian psychology.

The theory of the domestic scientist was based on the fact that a certain type of leading activity (VD) corresponds to a certain stage of development (this means age, mental and physical level of development ). Where under the leading activity is understood the type of activity within which the acquisition of mental neoplasms takes place.

The periodization of age development, proposed by DB El'konin as a representative of the cultural and historical concept of LS Vygotsky, has a number of features and key concepts. The development of the personality, its formation is continuous and conditioned by social interaction. Only through social interaction and practical activities does the child develop mentally. Socially conditioned communication between an adult and a child (even if it involves learning to interact with a child with objects, such as the second stage, called "early childhood") allows the latter to indirectly absorb social boundaries, morals, roles, stereotypes of actions, etc.

So, the age periodization in the framework of Elbenin's theory is divided into 6 stages:

1. Infant. Up to 1 year. The leading activity (hereinafter - VD) of children of this age is communication with adults. The child learns to interact with others, primarily with his mother through gestures, facial expressions and sounds. Close emotional communication allows the child's personal sphere to develop: through the mother he learns himself and the world around him, learns to react and communicate.
2. Early childhood. Up to 3 years. In the life of the child, objects appear. They can be touched, bitten, broken, etc. Thus, the child understands that he can influence the world around him, influence, in particular, those items that are available for impact. During this period, visual-effective thinking develops due to manipulation with objects.
3. Preschool age. Up to 7 years. VD of this period is a role-playing game in which children learn to interact with each other, learn to obey and adhere to the rules. In this period, there is also a need for socially significant activity, there appears a desire to be useful, to cooperate.
4. Junior school age. Up to 11 years. VD-teaching, the child-schoolboy learns to control his behavior according to the requirements and accepted rules. He develops arbitrariness (sit at the desk for 30 minutes, listening to the teacher and not distracted), self-control (postpone the game and do homework) and the internal plan of action (to build order of the homework).
5. Adolescence. Up to 15 years. VD-communication with peers. Desire to find yourself, your place in the team. Appears self-esteem - the way a teenager sees himself against the background of his friends, class, company, compares himself with others. The basic need is to be part of a group, to receive its support, to feel unity.
6. Youthful age. Up to 17 years. During this period, the attention of young men and women is aimed at understanding further activities, the choice of one's way in life is actualized. The possible options for the development of events after school are being considered. Guys often ask questions: "What do I want to become? What do I want to do? Which profession suits me?" VD - educational and professional. There is a responsibility for your future.

The age periodization developed by DB Elkonin allows to better understand the motives of a child of every age, helping parents and caregivers to provide it with everything necessary for full-fledged development.