{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"21. A Closer Look at Erikson\u2019s Stage 3: Navigating Initiative vs. Guilt in Early Childhood","description":"In this week\u2019s episode, Brenda brings listeners into one of her favorite stages in Erikson\u2019s eight-stage model: Stage 3, which focuses on children aged 3 to 5. This is the stage of initiative versus guilt, a time when little ones are beginning to assert their independence and explore the world in new and exciting ways. Brenda reframes the concept of \u201cinitiative\u201d into something easier to grasp. It\u2019s that spark of independence we see when children try new things and take their first steps toward confidence. This stage is all about testing boundaries and discovering what they\u2019re capable of doing.  This is one of the most honest stages of development. Before children learn the social rules that shape interactions later, they live authentically. Their emotions, thoughts, and desires are out in the open, and they\u2019re just starting to realize they are unique individuals. But it\u2019s also a huge transition\u2014from living solely in the safety of home to stepping out into the world.  Helping children navigate their emotions is a big part of this stage. They\u2019re learning to express feelings that seem to burst out of them at times. As therapists, we can give them space for these emotions to move while helping them understand what they\u2019re feeling.  At this stage, the world feels enormous to a 3- to 5-year-old. Everything is new, unfamiliar, and sometimes overwhelming. Brenda shares how children are filled with curiosity but also need support and guidance to feel safe as they explore.  This stage is about giving them room to grow\u2014emotionally, socially, and physically\u2014while also providing a foundation of understanding.   Connect with Brenda with the link below www.connectiontherapypodcast.com Follow Brenda on Instagram @theconnectiontherapypodcast   References: Anna Freud. (1946). The Psycho-Analytical Treatment of Children. New York, NY: International Univ. Press. Erik Erikson\u2019s Stages of Psychosocial Development referenced in Freud and Beyond: A History of Modern Psychoanalytic Thought by Mitchell & Black (1995) Pat Parelli - Natural Horsemanship, www.parelli.com   ","author_name":"Connection Therapy","author_url":"https:\/\/connection-therapy.com","html":"