My Erikson Development Timeline by

Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust

kstevens119_ — 2023-12-03 17:15:53 UTC

This first stage is essential because it allows your child to build trust with you. You want your child to trust you so you can do what is suitable for the child. My parents told me that I cried a lot as a baby and I would want to be held all the time. My parents having to keep me is how I would stop crying. That shows that I trusted and felt safe with my parents, so I wanted to be around them constantly.

Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt

kstevens119_ — 2023-12-03 17:23:59 UTC

This stage is essential because parents want to introduce new things to their children. Parents need to give their children toys they can touch to get an idea of what they should do. This allows the children to understand what to do with each toy. Parents should introduce a toy one at a time and add more when they feel the child is ready. My parents had a playroom for me but only let me go into the playroom once I was older. Instead, they would pick out toys they thought I was ready for and let me play with them. They would also sit with me and play with that toy. That helped me understand what to do with those toys.

Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt

kstevens119_ — 2023-12-03 17:33:11 UTC

This stage is crucial because you want your child to be able to play independently. This stage is essential for each child because they must be able to play independently. If the child can not play alone, that could create a problem when the child starts going to school. When I was young, I liked to play in my playroom. My parents would trust that I would be okay to sit and play with my toys by myself. That allowed me to play alone, and my parents could work on other household things without them having to hold or be with me.

Stage 4: Industry vs. Inferiority

kstevens119_ — 2023-12-03 17:47:43 UTC

This stage is critical because children need to show off their creativity. Kids can express themselves by doing crafts or even drawing. Drawing is also a good way for them to express their feelings if they can not express them out loud. As a kid, I loved to do crafts. I usually drew with my friends during recess because I wanted to show my mom and dad what I did at school that day. I loved to draw at home, too. I would always draw pictures and make crafts for my family and friends.

Stage 5: Identity vs. Role Confusion

kstevens119_ — 2023-12-03 17:56:04 UTC

This stage is challenging because this is the time of your life when you are trying to figure out who you are. While this stage is difficult, it is also essential because you need to figure out who you are so you can figure out what you want to do with yourself. You also are trying to figure out what friends you want to be around. When you think you understand who you are, sometimes you find out that there is more you did not know about yourself. As a teenager, I always wondered what group I was supposed to hang out with. I had people who were "popular" and some that were not. I had no clue which were real and which were my friends. After figuring out what person I wanted to be, I found my true friends.

Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation

kstevens119_ — 2023-12-03 18:51:12 UTC

This stage is critical because the point of life is to be with someone and grow old with them. As you hit your 20s, you will start to get into relationships. Some will work, and some may not. The critical thing to remember is that if the relationship does not work out, you do not give up. I will be 20 next year and have been in one relationship. While it did not work, I have learned more about myself than I knew before. I learned what I wanted in a man. I knew what was good for me and what was not. And I started to love myself because you need to love yourself before you get with someone. Finding that person is unique, so you need to know what you want and who you are. So the relationship will work and could be with that person forever.

Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation

kstevens119_ — 2023-12-03 18:56:57 UTC

This stage is incredible because you can now experience what your parents went through. You can have children and watch them grow into the humans they are. You get to help them grow and build a bond with your children. You are to build the trust with your child. And help your child play independently and prepare them for school. It also allows you to work with your spouse to be the best parents. I am not getting married, but I do want kids one day. I am excited to watch my future children grow up. I am eager to help them figure out who they are and who they will be. I am also happy to go through this stage of life with my future husband.

Stage 8: Ego Identity vs. Despair

kstevens119_ — 2023-12-03 19:01:48 UTC

This is the last stage of your life. You can now watch your children have their children. You can now explore and have fun before you get close to your end. While everyone does not know your last day, you make the most of it. Some people explore the world. Some buy objects that they never thought they could have. I hope that when I get to my end days, I will explore the world and be close to my family. I want to ensure that I stay close to my family so they know I love them. I want to do everything I could not do while I was young.