Every stage of childhood development comes with its own unique challenges and exciting milestones. 

For this article, we will provide a high-level overview of the different stages of development and the physical, mental, and emotional changes children experience along the way.

We will also discuss the social experiences that occur within each stage, and how it can all impact students’ well-being, particularly those living in poverty.

No matter what a child experiences through each stage, Catie’s Closet is committed to being there every step of the way.

Let’s dive in.

What are the childhood development stages?

The three major stages of childhood development include early childhood (birth to age 5), middle childhood (ages 6-12), and adolescence (ages 13-18). Source

Throughout these stages, children grow in many ways, including:

  • Cognitive abilities
  • Speech and language
  • Social and emotional development
  • Physical health
  • Fine/motor skills
  • Approaches to learning
  • And so much more. 

Source 

Children develop in these categories based on their own individual timing, but in general, there is specific growth that happens in each particular stage.

For example, at age three to four a child can speak in sentences. By age 11, a child can plan a speech, write it out, and recite it.

You can learn more about development in each stage here.

These parts of a child’s development can be dictated by many factors, including genetics, fetal development, socioeconomic status, family relationships and characteristics, and even nutrition. Source

How poverty affects childhood development

Poverty and homelessness affect children’s access to quality food, educational and learning opportunities, safe living conditions, and healthy parental relationships. It can also completely alter their brain development. 

The effects poverty and other adverse childhood experiences have on a child’s brain hinders all parts of their development, from cognition and language to mental health outcomes.

This is especially true for children who live in poverty for a significant portion of their childhood.

That’s why access to supportive services is crucial to mitigating the negative effects of poverty and the toxic stress that comes with it.

Read: How poverty impacts children’s mental health and educational outcomes

Life experiences within these stages of development

Talking about childhood development in the sense of physical, emotional, and mental changes is most certainly an important part of this topic. 

There is also so much that happens socially in a student’s life during these scientific stages that impact his or her development and life trajectory. 

Because Catie’s Closet focuses on breaking down barriers to education for students in need, we will discuss these experiences from the perspective of their school journey as well as how students in poverty may struggle to cope.

Of course, there are so many other critical pieces to each of these time periods than we’ve provided below.

Preschool/Pre-K/Kindergarten (early childhood)

  • Learning social cues
  • Setting a foundation for love of learning
  • Playing and interacting with other children
  • Learning how to make friends
  • Acclimating to a classroom setting and expectations
  • Learning to read and write

The ages of 0-5 set such a strong foundation for the rest of a child’s life. Young children in poverty may not have access to quality early childhood education. They also may not have proper support in these areas in their home lives.

Catie’s Closet starts with the earliest days of students’ educational journeys to provide them with everything they need so they can feel confident to make friends, maintain an excitement for learning, and positively shape their views of the world.

Elementary School (middle childhood)

  • Personality and likes/dislikes becoming more established
  • Begin to make solid friendships
  • Participate in extracurriculars
  • A new focus on grades and school performance

Elementary students in poverty may begin to see what others have that they may lack. They start comparing themselves to others and may feel inferior to their more affluent peers.

With Catie’s Closet, they are empowered to express themselves with confidence and feel a sense of belonging among their peers.

Middle School (adolescence) 

  • Cliques and school drama 
  • Bullying and cyberbullying
  • Students begin puberty
  • Peer pressure, fitting in, and self-esteem challenges

A child’s brain and body goes through so many changes during this time. Puberty causes physical and emotional changes that may be hard to cope with and understand. Children also may become more self-conscious and struggle to maintain a positive self-esteem. 

For students enduring poverty, their love for learning and having a good experience in school may be overpowered by worries of not having proper clothing, adequate housing, food to eat, etc. All of these factors also make it harder to feel like they fit in with their peers. It becomes even more challenging if they don’t have proper support and guidance at home. 

Middle school is such a tumultuous time for students. By providing them with constant access to the essentials they need and a reliable support system, they can better manage the challenges that come with this stage of life.

High School (adolescence) 

  • Prom and school dances/events
  • Romantic relationships and dating
  • Plans/concerns for after graduation
  • Worrying about grades
  • Mental health challenges

Physical and emotional challenges continue for high school students. During this time, their thinking becomes more complex and they start to differentiate themselves from peers and family members. But they still have the desire to fit in. 

For high schoolers in poverty, the pressure to meet certain expectations, especially when it comes to clothing and possessions, is at an all-time high. 

By continuing our presence from the early grades all the way through high school, we constantly remind students that there are people in the community and within their school system who want them to succeed and be their best. Regardless of what they face, they are not alone.

Catie’s Closet is there every step of the way.

During every stage of development, Catie’s Closet remains a consistent resource children in grades preK-12 can rely on for access to clothing and basic necessities. 

Read: From our school partners: 5 ways in-school access to basic necessities helps students in need.

Clothing is a foundational need for warmth and comfort, and it’s also critical to self-expression, self-esteem, and the potential for a successful life. It’s essential to the overall well-being and future success of a student.

Read: 3 ways clothing impacts the whole health of a child 

Without proper clothing, toiletries, school supplies, shoes, and other necessities, children struggle to feel good about themselves, much less go to school or fully participate in their classes.

Whether a student…

Catie’s Closet is there with welcoming support to provide the essentials he or she needs to show up and shine every day.

Through every stage of childhood development and the highs and lows of living in today’s society, we remain steadfast in our work to provide children in need with life-changing access to clothing and basic necessities. 

We are committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to obtain a high-quality education.

To join our mission, we invite you to our 13th Annual “A Night to Open Doors” Gala!

On March 23, 2024 Catie’s Closet will host “A Night to Open Doors” to raise $350,000 for 150,000 children living in poverty across Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

As these children endure unthinkable challenges and desperate feelings of loneliness and isolation, your support for a “A Night to Open Doors” allows us as a community to come together and be with them every step of the way. 

You have the power to lift them up and help them overcome any barriers they face in their pursuit of a well-rounded education and successful future.

Purchase tickets and learn more today.