https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/502932-2021-2023-syllabus.pdf
The development of a sense of self
● We aren’t born with a sense of self or with any values or behaviours that we
display throughout our lives
● It's during early childhood development that our physical, linguistic, social and
cognitive development form around us
● Over time, a child learns that they are distinct from those around them
● An infant isn’t aware of other people, so they don’t respond to smiles or
greetings but a grown person will because they are aware that other people
are separate from them
● At around 2 months, the baby will be more responsive to others and over time
they will observe and imitate behaviourisms around them
● Their behaviour changes from passive to active
● When they reach out for a toy, it shows the baby’s realisation that there is an
‘out there’ distinctive from themselves
● In time, babies learn that different things have different characteristics and
eventually that they themselves have different properties
● With language development, the child will be able to distinguish their gender,
age and name
● These definite, concrete characteristics are then extended to some skills
which involve thinking such as favourite toys or books