Child Development Theory
Child development theory helps explain how children and young people grow, learn, form relationships and develop socially and emotionally from birth through to adulthood.
The Thrive Approach draws on child development theory, attachment theory and neuroscience to help adults understand children’s social and emotional development, including how their needs may be communicated through behaviour.
What is child development theory?
Child development theory explores how children grow and change over time, including their social, emotional, physical and cognitive development.
In the Thrive Approach, this understanding helps adults recognise what children and young people may need at different stages of development, and how those needs can be communicated through behaviour.
Why child development theory matters
Child development theory helps adults understand the many connected ways children grow, learn, communicate and build relationships.
It helps adults to:
- See behaviour as part of a child’s wider development, not in isolation.
- Consider what a child may be feeling, finding difficult or needing from adults.
- Understand the links between emotional wellbeing, relationships, behaviour and learning.
- Respond with more confidence, consistency and care.
- Create the conditions children and young people need to feel safe, connected and ready to learn.
The Thrive Development model
The Thrive developmental model sets out the social and emotional experiences children and young people need as they grow.
It is organised into six developmental stages, showing what healthy social and emotional development can look like at different points, and how the adult’s role changes over time.
The model draws on child development theory, attachment theory, neuroscience, creativity and play. It helps adults look beyond behaviour alone and consider what a child or young person may be showing through their relationships, emotions, learning and behaviour.
Child development theory helps explain how children and young people grow, learn, build relationships and develop socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically from birth through to adulthood.
Children are better able to engage with learning when they feel safe, connected and supported. The Thrive developmental model helps adults understand how emotional wellbeing, behaviour and learning are connected.
A child or young person’s behaviour may be communicating a developmental need, emotional distress, stress, overwhelm, a missed experience or a need for connection and support.
Development is not always linear. Children and young people can be supported with earlier developmental needs when adults provide consistent relationships, appropriate experiences and sensitive responses.
Responsive, reliable adults play an important role in children’s development. The Thrive Approach helps adults respond in ways that support wellbeing, behaviour and learning, creating the conditions children and young people need to thrive.
Bring Thrive into your school
Become a Thrive School and help staff support children’s social and emotional development with confidence.
Build a shared approach to behaviour, relationships and learning, so children and young people feel safe, connected and ready to learn.
Frequently asked questions
Child development theory explains how children grow and change from birth through to adulthood. It looks at physical, cognitive, social and emotional development, including how relationships and experiences influence wellbeing, learning, communication, emotional regulation and behaviour.
The Thrive developmental model explains social and emotional development from birth through to adulthood. It is organised into six developmental stages and helps adults understand the developmental needs and learning experiences associated with each stage.
Child development theory helps teachers understand how children’s development can affect relationships, emotional wellbeing, communication, behaviour and learning. It supports teachers to consider what a child or young person may need to feel safe, connected, regulated and ready to learn.
Attachment theory helps explain how early relationships shape children’s emotional development, sense of safety and ability to trust others. Alongside child development theory, it can help adults understand how relationships influence wellbeing, behaviour and learning.
Children do not simply move backwards through development, but earlier developmental needs can be supported. With consistent relationships, appropriate experiences and sensitive responses, adults can help children and young people develop skills that may not have been fully supported earlier.
No. Child development theory is relevant from birth through to adulthood. Children and young people continue to develop socially and emotionally throughout childhood and adolescence, and adults continue to play an important role in supporting that development.