The Struggle Between Initiative and Guilt in Early Childhood

During the preschool years, children learn to assert themselves and speak up when they need something. Some children may state that they're sad because a friend stole their toy. If this assertiveness is greeted with a positive reaction, it can be helpful behavior. However, if they're made to feel guilty or ashamed for their assertiveness, they may grow out to be timid. Stage four early school year is industry versus inferiority. For example, a first grader may notice a consistently worse performance on spelling tests than peers.