A developmental task is a skill that must be acquired at a particular stage of life for development to continue. The main developmental tasks are physical, motor or cognitive skills that are considered vital for physical and mental health. Failure to acquire it may mean that developmental milestones are not being met, and happiness and success in later tasks may be more difficult. There are several different sets of main development tasks.
The stages of development can come from three different sources. There is physical maturation, including learning to sit, crawl, and walk; cultural expectations, which generally influence during middle childhood and include cooperation and socialization; and individual ideals and ambitions, including the development of skills important in the adult world of work and responsibility. The first outline of major developmental tasks originated in the 1930s and was an extension of Freudian psychology. Although they are set according to age, the completion of these tasks depends on genetic and environmental factors.
The first important developmental tasks begin in infancy and early childhood. Basic tasks like walking, eating solids, and potty training are among the first physical milestones. Learning to speak and interact with people are some of the first motor, cognitive and social tasks. In middle childhood, socialization and learning how to play both alone and with others are important, as is the development of skills such as reading and writing.
In adolescence, the focus becomes less on what is being done and more on what individuals are doing to influence and change their world. Personal independence and mental maturity are important developmental tasks, as is finding intimacy in relationships. The adult stages are divided into early, middle, and old age, with tasks focusing on family, work, and psychological adjustments at each stage, particularly the acceptance of old age.
A milestone in development is reaching a point where one stage ends and the next begins. These points are not always clear, as one stage often overlaps with the next. Erik Erikson was the first to organize life into eight stages that cover a lifetime rather than focusing on the biological stages of child development. Other theorists prior to Erikson, such as Piaget and Vygotsky, were more concerned with the developmental phases of childhood alone. There is a wide variation in what is considered normal, and homework should only be seen as a guideline rather than a bible of what is acceptable and what is not.