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Overview of the Human Lifespan. Unit 1 Health and Human Development Chapter 1. The Human Lifespan. The human lifespan starts at conception and ends at death. It can be broken up into different stages Prenatal Infancy Childhood Youth Early adulthood Middle adulthood Late adulthood.
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Overview of the Human Lifespan Unit 1 Health and Human Development Chapter 1
The Human Lifespan • The human lifespan starts at conception and ends at death. • It can be broken up into different stages • Prenatal • Infancy • Childhood • Youth • Early adulthood • Middle adulthood • Late adulthood
Prenatal Stage • The prenatal stage begins when a sperm penetrates an egg in a process known as fertilisation, to form one complete cell, called a zygote. • continues until birth and is characterised by the development of the body’s organs and structures, and substantial growth. • The unborn baby goes from being a single cell (smaller than a quarter of a millimetre across) to consisting of more than 200 billion cells at birth and weighing around 3.5 kilograms on average. • takes 40 weeks to complete. • the fastest growth period of all the human lifespan stages.
Infancy • Starts at birth and continues to the end of two years • Period of rapid growth and many changes • Development of gross motor skills • Development of speech- can speak a few basic words • Identify familiar people • Throw tantrums • Play social games
Childhood • Starts at 2 years and ends with the onset of puberty or 12 years Early childhood • Early childhood starts at the end of infancy and continues until the sixth birthday. • This stage is characterised by slow and steady growth, and the accomplishment of many new skills. • The child learns social skills that will allow them to interact with other people. • They will make friends, be able to eat with adults at the table and become toilet trained.
Childhood Late childhood • Late childhood starts at the sixth birthday and ends at age 12. • Late childhood is characterised by slow and steady growth. • There are many physical, social, emotional and intellectual • These include refining reading and writing skills, developing long-term memory, understanding gender stereotypes and refining motor skills.
Youth • Youth starts at 12 years of age and continues until 18 years • The youth stage is characterised by rapid growth, increased independence and sexual maturity. • Major physical changes- rapid growth spurt, development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics and the ability to reproduce • significant social, emotional and intellectual changes • greater independence, more complex relationships and the development of life goals
Early adulthood • Early adulthood begins at 19 and ends at 40. • the body reaches its physical peak around 25–30 followed by a steady decline in body systems thereafter. • A period of maintenance and repair as opposed to the periods of growth experienced in the earlier lifespan stages. • Focus on career and finding a steady job • Young adults may also choose their life partner, get married and/or have children. • These events lead to many physical, social, emotional and intellectual changes.
Middle adulthood • Middle adulthood begins at 40 and continues until the age of 65. • The events that occur during this period vary from culture to culture and from individual to individual. • Key characteristics include - stability in work and relationships - development of identity including the maturation of values and beliefs - financial security - physical signs of ageing - menopause in women - “empty nest syndrome” due to children leaving home - becoming grandparents
Late adulthood • occurs from the age of 65 until death • This period is characterised by a change in lifestyle arising from retirement and financial security • It can include greater participation in voluntary work and in leisure activities such as golf and bowls • Many older people may also have to endure the grief associated with the death of friends or a spouse. • As health begins to decline significantly, older people tend to reflect on their lives and achievements. • This may provide a sense of satisfaction or regret, depending on how they assess the choices they have made in their lives.