Unit 4: Development through the Life Stages

OCR Level 3Cambridge Technicals

in Health and Social Care

IntroductionIntroductionDuring a person’s lifetime, they travel

through a number of life stages.

Within each life stage, lifestyle factors may influence a person’s

growth and development.

During each life stage, people will experience both predictable and

unpredictable major life events.

Foetal developmentFoetal developmentBiological life factors, eg:

Effects of maternal

lifestyle, diet or infections during

pregnancy

Foetal alcohol

syndrome

Congenital defects

Infancy (0-3 years)Infancy (0-3 years)Predictable life events may include:

Starting pre-school or nursery

Separation from parents

Unpredictable life events may include:

Serious injury

IllnessBereavement

Childhood (4-9 years)Childhood (4-9 years)Predictable life events may include:

Starting school

Birth of sibling

Unpredictable life events may include:

Being placed in

care

Illness

Making friends

Adolescence (10-18 years)Adolescence (10-18 years)Predictable life events may include:Unpredictable life events may include:

Secondary school/ further

education

BereavementCriminal activityStarting

work

Leaving home

Convictions

Adulthood (19-65 years)Adulthood (19-65 years)Predictable life events may include:Unpredictable life events may include:

Employment

Divorce Bereavement

Marriage

Parenthood

Unemployment

Menopause

Redundancy

Insolvency

Older Adulthood (19-65 Older Adulthood (19-65 years)years)

Predictable life events may include:Unpredictable life events may include:

RetirementLoss of partner

Bereavement

Becoming a main carer

Life factorsLife factorsThroughout each of these stages, people will encounter various environmental and socio-economic factors that

could lead to delayed or arrested development, such as:

HousingPollution

Occupations

Access to recreational

facilities

Access to health care

Education

IncomeEmployment status

Lifestyle choices

Alcohol

Drugs

Diet

Exercise

Hobbies

Sport

Access to social care services

What will you learn?What will you learn?After completing this unit you will:

Know stages of growth and

development throughout the human lifespan

Understand physical and psychological

changes of ageing

Understand potential effects of

life factors and events on the

development of the individual

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