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Early Childhood
R receives Lego sets for Christmas, and these become one of his primary choices for how to spend his time. His parents encourage and admire his constructions. Erikson's third stage of initiative vs. guilt is when children learn either that they are permitted to and capable of planning their activities, leading to a sense of initiative, or they are incapable and not allowed, leading to a sense of guilt. -
Middle Childhood
R begins first grade. He navigates the social world of school, and makes friends. He seeks out information about things that interest him, and has a teacher who enables this. He joins unicycle club at school and is good at it. Erikson's fourth stage, industry vs. inferiority, is when a child either learns the skills necessary for success in their context and feels a sense of industry, or fails to learn what would make them successful and feels a sense of inferiority. -
Adolescence
R enters high school. He's already a ski jumper and mountain biker, and now tries out being a nerd (he quickly accepts that he only cares about what he's interested in, and he will never be a 4.0 student). He joins photography club and realizes he enjoys teaching others what he knows. He's in the middle of Erikson's fifth stage, identity vs. identity confusion, in which he will either become more clear on who he is, what he can do, and where he fits, or he will struggle to identify those things.