Studying Children

 Childhood prepares us for adulthood.  At birth, the brain is the least developed organ.  By age three, the brain has made trillions of connections.

 To make these connections, caregivers need to stimulate the brain.  Stimulation: Any activity that arouses a baby’s sense of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell.  These activities help improve a baby’s curiosity, attention span, memory, and nervous system.  Babies who receive more stimulation develop more quickly and have a more secure self- image.

 Researchers study children to test a theory.  Theory: A belief  Scientists give us information and suggestions about how to best nurture and educate children.

 1. Physical  2. Emotional  3. Social  4. Intellectual  5. Moral

 Researchers have found child development follows these five general rules:  1. Development is similar for each individual  Children go through the stages in almost the same order.  Example: Rolling over before walking  2. Development builds upon earlier learning.  Development follows a sequence, or an order of steps.  The skills learned at one stage build upon those mastered earlier.

 3. Development proceeds at an individual rate.  All children pass through the same stages, but they do so at a different rate.  Example: Sam learned to walk at 11 months, but Dean did not begin walking until 13 months.  4. The different areas of development are interrelated.  Changes occur in each area at the same time.  5. Development is continuous throughout life.  The rate of development varies, but it never stops for anyone.

 Predict why children follow their own pace in terms of development.

 Each child has their own combination of factors that influence development. These factors are:  1. Heredity: The biological transfer of certain characteristics from earlier generations. Blood type, eye color, and hair color are just a few of the characteristics determined by heredity.  2. Environment: is the people, places, and things that surround and influence a person, including family, home, school, and community.

 Heredity is often referred to as nature.  Environment is often referred to as nurture.

 Children often inherit certain characteristics like hair and eye color from their parents. (nature)  Children often learn attitudes and beliefs from their environment. (nurture)  Example: Elena’s mom loves to read and she sees her taking reading seriously, so Elena learns to love to read also  It is impossible to separate nature and nurture.  Do we love to read because our mother loves to read and we see her do it so we do it to? Or do we both share the same genes and that is why we both love to read?

 Which do you think has more affect: nature or nurture? Explain your answer.

 No two children have exactly the same environment, even children who live in the same home.  Two siblings may have different teachers, friends, activities, etc.  Everyone in a child’s life influences their development. That is why working with children is such a challenge!

 Self-Esteem: Self-worth or the value people place on themselves  People with low self-esteem feel they are failing or constantly disappointing others  Researchers have found a link between low self-esteem and poor school performance, truancy, and criminal behavior.  Children with high self-esteem are more likely to show enthusiasm for learning, form friendships, and make healthy choices.

 Development does not end with childhood.  Human Life Cycle: A set of stages of human development that each present different challenges to be met or skills to be acquired  Developmental Task: The challenge to be met or skill to be acquired in each stage  Mastering the task at each stage helps prepare a person for the next stage of the human life cycle.

 1. Adolescence: Stage of life between childhood and adulthood. Teens work on three developmental tasks: creating an identity, becoming independent, and pursuing education and careers.  2. Young Adulthood: People in their twenties, when many young adults finish their education and begin working. Many marry in this period.

 3. The Thirties: This stage presents the challenges of establishing roots, reevaluating life choices made earlier, and finding stability in career and relationships.  4. Middle Age: Ages Parents adjust to their children becoming more independent. Adults in this stage make life changes, such as starting a new career.

 5. Late Adulthood: Ages Many adults retire, become more socially or politically active, travel, take classes, take on a part- time job, or enjoy new hobbies. Adults may enjoy spending time with grand-children. Health issues may arise.  6. Very Late Adulthood: Beyond age 75. Health problems become very common. However, many older adults are still active and contribute to society. People in this stage often need more assistance or care.

 Predict which stage of life after childhood is the most difficult. Explain your answer.