5 Reasons to Study Human Development

You’ll Appreciate Life's Changes

We often think of human development as a process that’s done when we’re adults. But it’s an ongoing process that continues throughout life.

If you understand how you’ll grow and change as time passes, it will help you appreciate whatever stage of life you’re in, as well as manage the challenges and opportunities that come with it.

For example, middle age is often a time for thinking about how you’ve arrived at where you are in life and contemplating the future. As you are confronted with the reality of an aging body, your mind might turn to the legacy you want to leave behind.

You’ll Learn About Yourself

Learning more about how children develop can give you some insight into how you grew up. What experiences shaped your personality and preferences? How did your upbringing influence who you are today?

For example, you may realize that the experiences you had as a child influenced how you view the world and relate to others. You may see patterns or trends in your behavior, emotions, and relationships that are rooted in something that you learned as a child. You can ask yourself if these lessons are helping you now or if they’re something you may want to try to leave in the past.

Answering these questions may even let you see into your future. Being informed about the aging process will help you feel more prepared for the realities of getting older.

Understanding human development can empower you to:

• Address end-of-life concerns.
• Develop and maintain supportive relationships.
• Make informed choices about your lifestyle habits and medical care that support your health.
• Plan for your needs as you age so you can stay safe and independent.

Aging doesn’t always follow a defined path. Many factors determine the path your life will take. But the earlier you understand and recognize those factors, the sooner you can start working on them.

You’ll Find New Ways to Interact with Kids

If you plan on having or working with children someday, studying human development can improve your interactions with them. For example, you’ll learn how to:

• Communicate in age-appropriate ways.
• Encourage age-appropriate play.
• Help children express and understand their emotions.
• Reinforce positive behaviors.

Once you understand the stages of development, you’ll be more comfortable talking, playing, and being around kids. Of course, these skills will be most important if you want to pursue a career that involves working with children.

For example, if you’re intimidated by striking a balance between “talking down” to kids and speaking to them in a way that “goes over their head,” understanding child development will help you learn to tailor your speech patterns and vocabulary to the child you’re spending time with.

You’ll Understand Your Children Better

If you’re a parent or plan to be, one of the best things you can do for your family is learn about child development. A lot takes place in the years between infancy and adulthood, and you’ll want to understand what happens at each stage along the way.

Understanding how kids grow helps caregivers support their children and work through challenges. Human development gives you greater insight into how (and why) your children behave, think, learn, and feel the way they do.

Child development is a complex process. Learning more about how kids grow physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively can lead to a deeper understanding of the children in your life.

For example, there are a lot of firsts to experience after you become a parent. While no two kids are alike, if you have an idea of what is usually going on in the mind of a two-year-old, you won’t feel caught off guard when they start asserting their independence and testing boundaries.

You'll Be Equipped to Recognize Challenges and Offer Help

The earlier developmental problems are detected, the sooner intervention can begin. No matter what the situation, early detection and treatment can lead to better outcomes.

While everyone is different, human development tends to follow a predictable pattern. Once you have studied the process, you'll have a sense of what is typical at certain ages and stages.

When you understand what to expect in early childhood, it’ll be easier to spot possible signs of cognitive, ​social, or emotional development disorders. You will also be more prepared for struggles that may come up later in life.

For example, you may notice that a child in your life isn’t speaking as much as would be expected for their age or that they’re having a hard time with motor tasks like learning to throw and catch a ball.

The earlier in life that developmental challenges are noticed, the sooner a child can get the support they need to thrive.