Learning about children

Your impact on children People and events shape who children become Benefits of studying children Views of childhood Living what you learn

Benefits of studying children No two children are a like and no one expert can explain every aspect of their behavior The best way to learn about children is through interacting with them Learn why they feel, think, and act the way that they do Typical behaviors are the ways of acting or responding that are common at each stage of childhood Discover caregivers importance Provide affection to grow emotionally, stimulate learning, and teach them right from wrong Enjoy children more You will learn how to enjoy their honesty, humor, energy and curiosity Learn about career opportunities

Views of childhood The way you view your own childhood, often determines how you view childhood in general Childhood is a period of rapid development, dependence on caregivers, and preparation for adult life Childhood has not always been considered a separate, important stage of life. It isn’t until the last 10 years that it has been acknowledged as a separate life cycle

Comparing childhood past and present Many people believe that children should be seen but not heard Health: Before the 20th century many children died from illness Proper nutrition has helped to increase the lifespan of children Education: Did not become widespread in this country until the early 1800’s In today’s schools children are grouped according to age and sometimes learning levels Love: The one thing that has remained constant in child development Work: Up until the 20th century children were expected to work Today teens may work however there are laws regulating their hours

Play: It is how they learn Toys in the past were simple and often homemade Dress: Children in the past dressed more formally Today clothes are more causal, and similar in style between boys and girls

Section 1-2 Studying children

Why is childhood crucial? Early childhood is the most important life stage for brain development At birth the brain is the least developed organ at birth A baby’s brain develop in response to stimulation, and baby’s who are stimulated develop more quickly and have a more secure self image

Theories about development Theorist have provided valuable information in regards to the development of children There are some theories that cannot be tested Not everyone agrees on how these theories should be implemented

What researchers have found The foundations upon which future research can be built: Characters of development: Development is similar for each individual Development builds upon earlier learning Development proceeds at an individual rate The different areas of development are interrelated Development is a lifelong process

Influences on development Each child develops at a different rate because they have a unique combination of factors influencing their development Heredity: The biological transfer of certain characteristics from earlier generations. Blood type, hair color, eye color etc…. Is often referred to as nature- meaning born with a talent Environment: Refers to the people places and things that surround and influences people Is often referred to as nurture- refers to the influences and conditions in a childs environment

Lifelong growth and development The human life cycle is the path in which development; in which presents different challenges that must be met or skills acquired. Development beyond childhood: Adolescence- stage between childhood and adulthood Young adulthood- stage for people in their twenties The thirties: stage that presents the challenges of establishing roots Middle ages: from 40 to 55- parents adjust to their children becoming more independent Late adulthood: ages 55-75- when most adults retire, more politically and or socially active Very late adulthood: beyond age 75:health problems become more apparent.

The role of self esteem in development Self esteem refers the value people place on themselves/ Plays a role in how people deal with every day situation They have found a link to low self esteem and poor school performance, truancy, and criminal behavior Children who feel good about themselves are more likely to show enthusiasm for learning, forming friendships, and make healthier choices