There are many important developmental theories that help explain a child’s (or adult’s) growth and change processes; Piaget, Erikson, Freud, attachment theory, and family life cycle theory are but a few. Understanding these theories help adults to better support, stimulate, and facilitate children’s healthy growth and development, and recognize the limitations and dangers in the process. This presentation presents the underlying rules of all developmental theories, and gives guidance on how to not only recognize how they manifest in children, but also how to best aid development.