page_title: Childhood
section_title: Early childhood
hierarchical_section_title: Childhood / Developmental stages of childhood / Early childhood
caption_attribution_description: English: Merina girls of highland Madagascar
context_page_description: Childhood is the age span ranging from birth to puberty. It may also include adolescence, but precedes adulthood regardless. According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, childhood consists of two stages: preoperational stage and concrete operational stage. In developmental psychology, childhood is divided up into the developmental stages of early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. Various childhood factors could affect a person's attitude formation.
  The concept of childhood emerged during the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly through the educational theories of the philosopher John Locke and the growth of books for and about children. Previous to this point, children were often seen as incomplete versions of adults.
context_section_description: Early childhood follows the infancy stage and begins with toddlerhood when the child begins speaking or taking steps independently. While toddlerhood ends around age 3 when the child becomes less dependent on parental assistance for basic needs, early childhood continues approximately until the age of 7. However, according to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, early childhood also includes infancy. At this stage children are learning through observing, experimenting and communicating with others. Adults supervise and support the development process of the child, which then will lead to the child's autonomy. Also during this stage, a strong emotional bond is created between the child and the care providers. The children also start preschool and kindergarten at this age: and hence their social lives.
caption: Children in Madagascar, 2011
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