2. Learning About Children
Chapter 1
Learning About Children

3. Understanding Child Development
1.1

4. Objectives After studying this lesson, you will be able to
define the term child development.
describe the four domains of child development.
summarize the six stages of the individual life cycle that involve children.
explain how heredity and environment influence growth and development.

5. What Is Child Development?
Development is the gradual process through which babies become adults.
Child development is the scientific study of children from conception to adolescence.
Growth is a change in size such as height or quantity
Child Development teaches teens and adults how to care for children

6. Four Domains of Child Development
Physical
Intellectual
Social
Emotional
Physical involves growth of the body and the development of both large and small motor skills
Ex: learning to walk, changes in the brain
Intellectual includes how people learn, what people learn, and how people express what they know through language development
Ex: learning about objects
Social interactions with people
Ex: social groups
Emotional concerns emotions
Ex: brings pleasure or enjoyment
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7. Individual Life Cycle
The individual life cycle is a description of the stages of change people experience throughout life.

8. Stages of Child Development
Prenatal—from conception to birth
Neonatal—birth to 1month
Infancy—1 to 12 months
Toddler—12 to 36 months
Preschool—3 to 6 years
School-age (middle childhood)—6 to 12 years
Figure 1.2 on pg.9

9. Factors That Influence Growth and Development
Heredity—traits passed to a child from a blood relative
Genes—sections of the DNA molecule that are found in cells and determine traits
Genetics—study of heredity
Environment—the conditions and situations that surround and affect a child
Babies inherit about 23,000 genes from their parents
(Continued)
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10. The Epigenome
Consists of chemicals that can turn genes on and off
Built through positive or negative factors
Is impacted by stressors, which are situations that cause anxiety
Changes are passed from mother to child during prenatal development (conception to 12 months)
Positive factors cause the chemical compounds to turn on
Negative factors cause harm
The BRAIN is most vulnerable to changes

11. Review and Assessment
#1-5 on pg. 13 (Answers only)

12. Recognizing Principles and Theories of Growth and Development
1.2

13. Objectives After studying this lesson, you will be able to
identify key principles of growth and development.
assess how milestones aid people who are working with children.
give examples of the major principles of growth and development.
explain how child development research can become a theory.

14. Principles of Growth and Development
Figure 1.6 on pg. 15
Tend to be constant because of 2 reasons:
1. New growth, knowledge, and skills
2. People live in the same environment for years
Are gradual and continuous
Ex: a baby taking his or her first steps. Each day before walking the baby grew, the body matured, and the baby practiced motor skills such as crawling/pulling to a stand
Happen in sequenced steps (stages or milestones)
Happen at different rates some people enter a stage earlier and some later than the typical age

15. Theories of Growth and Development
A theory is a set of statements offered as possible explanation for a phenomenon.
No one theory can adequately describe child development.
(Continued)

16. Child Development Theory Categories
Maturational
Psychoanalytic
Psychosocial
Learning
Cognitive-developmental
Sociocultural
Ecological systems
Figure 1.9 on pg. 19
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17. Review and Assessment
#1-6 on pg. 19 (Answers only)

18. Studying and Observing Children
1.3

19. Objectives After studying this lesson, you will be able to
recognize the benefits of studying children.
assess Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs.
explain Brazelton and Greenspan’s seven basic needs of all children.
develop observation skills.

20. Benefits of Studying Children
How will studying children help you?
Understand yourself (your growth, development and values)
Care for children (being a responsible parent or in a career in a child related field)

21. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Figure 1.10 on pg. 22
The first four levels are basic needs
The first level includes all physical needs. The other levels are psychological needs (related to feelings)
Self Actualization means to grow and fulfilled as a person
(video)

22. Brazelton/Greenspan’s Irreducible Needs
Ongoing nurturing relationships (Birth-Preschool)
Physical protection, safety, and regulation (food, clothing, shelter, and protection from toxins, harm, or abuse)
Experiences tailored to individual differences (match strengths and weaknesses to experiences)
Experiences that are developmentally appropriate (apply "best practices" as the child matures)
Limited setting, structure, and expectations (children need BOTH structure and discipline)
Stable communities and cultural continuity
Protection of the future

23. Why Observe Children?
To understand what you read and hear about children in class
Because professional researchers learn through observation
To help you better interact with children in your care
So you can respond quickly if danger arises

24. Ways to Observe
Direct observation—watching children in natural environments (home, play dates, child care programs, schools, shopping centers, parks, and restaurants)
Indirect observation—gathering information about children from various sources (asking questions of parents, teachers, and children)

25. Guidelines for Observations
Know your objectives.
Obtain permission.
Know what to do at the site.
Ask questions at convenient times.
Do not be distracting.
Observe carefully and objectively.
Record accurately.
Protect the rights of those observed.
Figure 1.15 on pg. 29
*Will get a worksheet on Monday/Tuesday for observations...due back at the end of week

26. Review and Assessment
#1-5 on pg. 29 (Answers only)