[Ruthierhyme]

Hi, these two quotes may help a little.

Page 337 of the EYE handbook: Erik Erikson's life stage theory of personality has many implications for the way that adults work with children, and this is reflected in current practice. Adults need to make sure that babies have a warm nurturing environment so that they learn to trust.

The EYFS has the key person system to ensure that babies' emotional needs are met and also focuses practitioners on the importance of meeting babies; other needs promptly. In terms of toddlers, it is good practice to provide plenty of encouragement for them as they try to do things for themselves. You may, for example, see that adults allow time for meals for two and three year olds to feed themselves and encourage them to explore materials through open-ended activities such as heuristic and block play. When children are between the ages of four and five, they are encouraged to plan for their play and follow theirinterests, although adults do set boundaries for this. In key stage 1, children are encouraged to take responsibility and also to do tasks for themselved. Teachers also put boundaries in place so that there is a balance.

Page 72 of the Cache level 3 childcare book:

Erik Erikson (1902 - 94) took Sigmund Freud's work as the rock on which he nased his own personality theory. He was also a pupil of Anna Freud, Sigmund's daughter. Erikson concentrated on the superego and on the influence of society on a child's development. He showed how, when we meet a personal crisis or have to deal with a crisis in the world (for example, living through a war), we are naturally equipped to face the difficulties and to deal with them. Erikson thought that there were eight developmental phases during a person's life (five during childhood and three during adulthood). He said that during each phase we have to face and sort out the particular kinds of problems that occur during that phase.
In the days before equal opportunities, Erikson called his developmental stages the Eight Phases of Man.

It is important to bear in mind that theories evolving from Freud's ideas are based on white, middle-class patients in western Eaurope. The theories need to be used carefully for that reason. However, they still seem to be useful in many of in many of Erikson'seight development phases.

1. Babyhood: we have to sort whether we feel a basic sense of trust or mistrust in life. This phase is about being a hopeful person or not.

2. The Toddler and nursery years: we develop either a basic sense of being able to do things ourselves (autonomy), or a basic sense of doubt in ourselves, leading to shame. This phase is about our self-identity.

3. The infant school years: we either take the initiative and go for it or we feel guilty and hold back in case we upset people. This phase is about leading an active life with a sense of purpose, or not.

4. The junior years: we either begin to be determined to master things or we do not try hard in case we cannot manage something. This phase is about becoming skilled.

5. Adolescence: we either begin to be at one with ourselves or we feel uncertain and unsure. We learn to have faith in ourselves, or not.

6. Young adults: we begin to have a sense of taking part in our society and and of taking responsibility in it as a shared venture, or we think only of ourselves and become isolated.

7. Middle age: we begin to be caring of the next generation and the future of our society, or we reject the challenge.

8. Old age: we return to our roots and overcome feelings of despair, disgust about lifestlles or fear of death, or not. This is Erikson's phase of wisdom.

Best wishes