Ontario Early Childhood Educator Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Erikson's stage of Initiative vs. Guilt typically begins around age 3. During this stage, children are developing a sense of initiative, as they engage in activities, make plans, and start to assert themselves in their environment. They feel a growing level of independence and begin to explore their abilities through play and interaction with others.

The successful resolution of this stage leads to a sense of initiative, where children feel empowered to lead and make decisions. Conversely, if children are discouraged or criticized for their efforts, they may start to feel guilt over their needs and desires, which can affect their confidence in engaging in future initiatives.

Overall, this developmental stage is critical as it lays the foundation for a child’s motivation and ability to undertake tasks and interact socially, influencing their personality and behavior in subsequent stages of development. The ages before and after this stage, such as 1 or 2 years, typically focus more on basic trust, autonomy, and skills, while around age 4, children are usually progressing into the next stage of development, which is Industry vs. Inferiority.