ABSTRACT
Much of human development is set down at conception in the genetic blueprint passed on to each child by its parents. This blueprint is referred to as our genetic heredity. Heredity has a tendency to restrict the development of some human characteristics to just one or a few outcomes. This is called canalisation. There are numerous physical, motor, and cognitive developments, such as getting bigger, walking, and talking that are highly canalised, that is, occur at about the same time for most children universally, and there needs to be a major traumatic event or events to disrupt this development (Gottlieb, 1991; Masel & Siegal, 2009; Waddington, 1957). There are rhythms and peaks in these canalised developments and knowledge of particular developmental patterns including peaks in development is, therefore, of immense value to professionals involved with children. We cover a number of important developments throughout this text.
