DEVELOPMENTAL PROFILES FOR STUDENTS

Developmental profiles provide parents, teachers, and paraeducators with detailed descriptions of “normal” developmental patterns for PreK- 12th grade students.  These profiles cover five distinct areas of development (physical, emotional, philosophical, social, and intellectual).  The mnemonic PEPSI may help you recall all five areas.  The PEPSI profiles help adults who are working with children recognize patters that contribute to the actions and behavior of children.  Adults who are successful in working with children realize that much of any child’s behavior can be understood by considering the child’s development in a holistic way.  Think of the areas of development as pieces of a pie.  If one of the pieces is missing, the pie is not complete.  It’s the same with children.  If one part of development is missing or unhealthy, the child cannot grow into an educated, self-controlled, and contributing member of society.

The PEPSI profiles were developed by Dr. J’Anne Ellsworth and have been adapted for the purposes stated above.  Dr. Ellsworth based her work on the research of the developmental experts cited in the following descriptions of each developmental area:

1. Physical development is the way a child's body grows.   (Gessell, Ilg, Ames)
2. Emotional development involves the development of a child's personality. (Erikson)
3. Philosophical development involves a child moral reasoning (Kohlberg)
4. Social development is the way a child learns to work, play and interact with other people. (Coopersmith, Loevinger, Kegan, Gessell, Ilg, Maccoby)
5. Intellectual development involves a child's thinking abilities.  (Piaget, Vygotsky, Bruner, Bloom)