Is there a normality in child development?: The scope and uses of the concept of normal development in clinic and research with children

Abstract

The objective of this article is to analyze the meanings and scope of the concept of normality as used in the study of child development, highlighting its implications in clinic and research settings. Concepts and theoretical approaches from various disciplinary fields are intertwined in order to propose themes for discussion and reflection. The first is related to the definitions of normality applied to human development and their translation into instruments, models, and forms of intervention. The second refers to the importance of transcending dualist visions, making way for approaches that consider the diversity of development trajectories as historically and ecologically situated processes. The third seeks to reflect on the ethical implications of routine ways of approaching and accompanying children whose developmental trajectories differ greatly from normative models. This article aims to contribute to the creation and preservation of spaces for interdisciplinary dialogue and work, as well as the training of professionals in the field of child development.