Egocentric Stage In Children
Self- centeredness manifests itself from an early age. The question is: how should parents act during the egocentric stage in children?
What egocentricity implies in children
When a person manifests self-centeredness, this means that they only think of themselves, regardless of what others think. Now, in the case of children something different happens: The fact that they manifest egocentricity does not necessarily mean that they are egocentric in itself, but that they are in an evolutionary stage.
In this developmental stage, children pretend to be the protagonists, since they have not developed what is known as empathic thinking. In fact, every child must go through this stage and it is even healthy for him to go through it, so parents do not have to give it more importance than it should. What they should do is show affection and patience for the little one.
Phases of the egocentric stage in children
Saramago’s phrase refers to how bad it can be to give free rein to selfishness in both adults and children. Therefore, it is vital to know how to act during the egocentric stage in children. But first, it is convenient to know the phases of this stage, which will be mentioned below:
Discovery phase
In this phase the child learns from everything he sees around him, so if he notices individualistic behavior, that is what he will imitate. Therefore, it is important to teach him the correct way to behave by example.
Bonding phase
This is when attachment and friendship arise in the child. According to psychologist Paul Osterrieth, children up to 5 years old have no need to share things with others, because they do not understand that a game is for a common purpose.
However, between 6 and 7 years the child begins to understand what cooperation means, so it is achieved that he shares with others, thus manifesting the bond.
Acceptance phase
In this phase the child the child already manifests to have learned adequate social skills. These skills or behaviors are learned through instruction, imitation, preparation, and practice. It is to this goal that every parent should strive to reach out with their children.
When does the egocentric stage begin in children?
At what point does the egocentric stage begin in children? Many parents may wonder. According to various studies, the egocentric stage in children appears from 2 or 3 years of age. This is so in view of the fact that, by human nature, everyone tends to be self-centered. However, good development through education can change that.
From a young age, a child only knows the perspective that he is the center of the world and this makes it difficult for him to get into another person’s perspective. This leads to the fact that he cannot express empathy, given that he does not understand reality: That there are other people with whom you have to share.
Manifestations of egocentricity in children
During the egocentric stage in children, it is very common for tantrums to arise constantly. This occurs due to the lack of understanding on the part of the little ones, which is why great frustration is generated in various situations.
Through tantrums and screaming, tantrums and even insults, the child tries to get what he wants, so it is necessary to help them so that these tantrums do not become the daily bread.
How to act during the stage of egocentricity of children
Parents should have a positive attitude, always taking into account that behavior change in children is possible if they are consecutively encouraged to act as they should. To achieve the above, the following steps can be followed:
In the event that a tantrum arises due to egocentric attitudes in children, what should be done is not to give what the child demands to calm him down and not entertain him with another alternative. Ideally, stay calm and tell him how things should be and do it in a few words.
After the tantrum passes, the child can be explained what is expected of him next time. In addition, it is essential that the family atmosphere is calm and there is serenity.
The Complete Language Acquisition Ratio
The egocentric stage in children will begin to end when they fully develop language. This will begin to occur from the age of 4. The reason is that children with language begin to socialize with others and thus begin to understand other points of view. In this way, maturity and understanding will develop.
Do not force, but do encourage
Encourage and not force should be the motto of every parent when teaching their children the importance of sharing. For this reason, by the way of acting of the parents it is possible to transmit to the children that there are other people and that they have needs.
It is essential, then, to make the child understand that you can enjoy sharing things in a group, something that can be interesting. This is accomplished primarily through example.
Not incur the obligation
Parents should not force their children to put down their toys if they do not want to. Rather, you have to teach them how to do things. It is one thing to force and quite another to teach. Nor should their behavior be ridiculed. If this is done, the feeling that the child is not understood will increase.
And these are just a few ways to act during the egocentric stage in children. The important thing is to teach calmly and by example, an aspect that parents should not take for granted in their teaching.
