The study of child development has opened the eyes of parents and future parents to how their children can develop cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically. Parents now have an idea of ​​how their child might develop thanks to the many theorists who had their own ideas about how the developing child develops and learns. Arnold Gesell provided many insights into child development, as well as giving parents insight into how their child would develop at each age. Gesell is best known for his maturation theory or heredity theory against nature. Arnold Lucius Gesell was born on June 21, 1880 in Alma, Wisconsin. His parents highly valued his education and he knew early on that he wanted to become a teacher. In 1903 he graduated from the University of Wisconsin and with his degree became a high school teacher and principal before entering Clark University, where he received his doctorate. Gesell believed that a background in medical research was needed to study child development and studied at Yale, receiving a medical degree in 1915. Arnold Gesell founded and directed the Yale Clinic of Child Development from 1911 to 1948. Gesell's initial work was to study disabled children and studied disorders such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and cretinism. Through his studies, he documented similarities and patterns in children's mental development and concluded that individuals go through sequences of identifiable stages. Gesell was able to give parents an idea of ​​how their child might develop at each age. Indeed, Gesell is known by many as the father of the study of child development in the United States. To help parents understand how their child is developing at each age, Gesell developed the Developmental S...... middle of paper ......environment as well as many other theories out there, have allowed us to continue studying the child's developing mind in hopes of finding the true key to development. Works Cited Aldridge, G., & Aldridge, G. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/child-development-changing-theories/Arnold Lucius Gesell - Definition of Arnold Lucius Gesell. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.yourdictionary.com/arnold-lucius-gesellArnold Gesell Theory of Child Development - The Child Cave. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.thekidscave.org/child-development/arnold-gesell-theory-of-child-development/Cherry, K. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/b/2007/12/12/theories-of-child-development.htmTheories of Child Development | Education.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/child-development-changing-theories