cy
is the rapidity with which command of the bodily organs is secured.
Starting with a few inherited reflexes, the child at three years of age
has attained fairly complete control of his sense organs and bodily
movements, though he lacks that co-ordination of muscles by which
certain delicate effects of hand and voice are produced. The relative
growth is greater at this than at any subsequent period. Another
prominent characteristic is the tendency to incessant movement. The
constant handling, exploring, and analysing of objects enhances the
child's natural thirst for knowledge, and he probably obtains a larger
stock of ideas during the first three years of his life than during any
equal period subsequently.

=B. Mental Characteristics.=--A conspicuous feature of infancy is the
imitative tendency, which early manifests itself. Through this means
the child acquires many of his movements, his language power, and the
simple games he plays. Sense impressions begin to lose their fleeting
character and to become more permanent. As evidence of this, few
children remember events farther back than their third year, while many
can distinctly recall events of the third and fourth years even after
the lapse of a long period of time. The child at this period begins to
compare, classify, and generalize in an elementary way, though his ideas
are still largely of the concrete variety. His attention is almost
entirely non-voluntary; he is interested in objects and activities for
themselves alone, and not for the sake of an end. He is, as yet, unable
to conceive remote ends, the prime condition of voluntary attention. His
ideas of right and wrong conduct are associated with the approval and
disapproval of those about him.

2. CHILDHOOD

=A. Physical Characteristics.=--In the earlier period of childhood, from
three to seven years, bodily growth is very rapid. Much of the vital
force is thus consumed, and less energy is available for physical
activity. The child has also less power of resistance and is thus
susceptible to the diseases of childhood. His movements are for the same
reason lacking in co-ordination. In the later period, from seven to
twelve years, the bodily growth is less rapid, more energy is available
for physical activity, and the co-ordination of muscles is greater. The
brain has now reached its maximum size and weight, any further changes
being due to the formation of associative pathways along nerve centres.
This i