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In every situation, there are things and people to trust or mistrust. Kids have to gain independence to find their sense of trust and continue to grow.

With the child I chose to base my timeline off of, he had trouble spending time away from his mom when he was young. They soon learned that he started to spend time away from her if there was someone who was spending one on one time with him and playing with him. Because there were people who were willing to give him undivided attention and love, he was able to learn to trust people, other than his mom. He resolved this crisis with trust.

"After all, if you feel that others have your back, you are likely to try new things and thus develop new skills."

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During this stage, children already have learned how to trust and when to mistrust. As they gain independence, they have to learn they to not have free reign to do anything they want. Parents and caregivers have to show them a balance of doing things on their own and teaching them to listen and go by rules as well.

My child during this stage went through a period of only wanting to wear clothes he picked out and not what his parents picked out. It was hard for the parents to let go of the fact that the outfit may not match, but it made him happy and feel independent with his decision. This helped him develop a sense of control and judgment.

"As children are better able to make their wishes understood, they become more powerful and independent."

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Around the preschool age, you can find children wanting to do more in every sense of their life. As they continue to try and push, they soon learn that there are times when there are limits to their advances. They learn through social play and interaction.

My child learned this in a tough way when he went to preschool. He wasn't the best at playing with others because he wanted to be in charge at all times. He quickly had to realize that there are times he can be a leader, but other times he has to be on the same level as his friends.

"Preschool children can do-and want to do-more and more. At the same time, they are learning that some of the things they want to do to meet social approval, whereas others do not."

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This is the stage where a child is coming into their own, finding their interests, and making friends. Their relationships with peers and teachers is a big part of this time in their life. They are gaining self-esteem through praise and can find low self-worth when they are unable to find it. They discover working hard can help them accomplish their goals.

A crisis my child went through during this time when trying out baseball. His cousin plays and he wants to be just like him. Since his cousin was older, he was obviously more advanced in the game. When my child went to his first practice, it was much harder than he thought and came home wanting to quit. He didn't understand that you have to keep practicing and working to get better. His parents assured him he could be just as good as his cousin the longer he works at it. Through this, he developed a sense of industry.

"If this stage is successfully resolved, children develop a view of themselves as being able to master skills and complete tasks."

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Stage 5: Identity vs. Identity Confusion

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Stage 5: Identity vs. Identity Confusion

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As these kids grow into their adolescence stage, they are learning who they are and how they identify in many ways. They can test boundaries with their parents and educators in different ways to see how they feel best. While coming into their own, they  find ways to fit into society with occupation, values, and sexual identity.

While my child has not yet entered this stage, I have an idea of how he will be when he gets there. He likes to push his parents buttons and see what he can get away with, so I can see him continuing that as he gets older. I also see him being a little reckless with his friends, just by the way he loves rough and tumble play at his current age. I assume he will be able to find his identity through his friends and family helping him along the way.

"The effort to make sense of the self is part of a healthy process that builds on the achievements of earlier stages...and lays the groundwork for coping with the challenges of adult life."

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Intimacy can form in men and women in different ways. Men develop identity first and intimacy second, and women develop identity through intimacy. There are gender roles and structures set by society that they may fall into, or they find what makes them set apart.

I think my child will find himself falling into the societal ways a man is "expected" to be and act. His dad and older brother will probably have a large impact on his identity and who he grows into. He likes to have a small circle of friends, and could find himself being intimate in that circle. At the same time, I can see him struggling to open up and possibly isolating himself from certain situations.

"...research has failed to find gender differences in the link between romantic attachment and identity exploration."

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During this second to last stage, adults can find themselves wanting to contribute to society and impact future generations. Marriage, children, and work can all affect this time. They can teach their children positive ways to move forward with their life. If not, they can feel uninterested and do not do things to improve themselves.

With my child, I see him growing up and getting married and having children of his own. Having siblings himself, I think can contribute to him wanting to raise his own. He is passionate about what he enjoys and I see that rubbing off on those around him when he is older. Finding what he is interested in can contribute to what he wants to teach the next generation.

"Mature adult is concerned with establishing and guiding the next generation or else feels personal impoverishment."

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During this final stage, adults reflect on what they have done during their lives. They can either feel integrity from a life well lived, or find themselves in despair and regretting their path. Integrity and despair can be defined differently by every person as everyone has different values.

I would hope my child is able to look back on his life and feel he did everything he wanted to accomplish and more. If there are things he regrets, I hope he is able to see how it shaped who he ended up becoming. There is no way of knowing for sure how he will end up in this stage, but I can be hopeful for what is to come.

"Elderly person achieves acceptance of own life, allowing acceptance of death, or else despairs over inability to relive life."