1. Chapter 1 Issues and Themes in Child Development

2. Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Learning Questions
Who needs to have a good understanding of child development? And why?
What are the domains of child development and some recurring themes and issues in the field?
What are the contexts for child development?
How can you be a smart consumer of information about development?
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

3. Why Study Child Development?
Understanding the process of development
The experiences that we have in childhood shape who we become as adults *
Example: Terman’s (1921) study of gifted children
Link 1: Harvard Education’s “The Science of Early Childhood Development” video discusses the importance of development in early childhood and its association with later development
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

4. Why Study Child Development?
Later experiences are important too.
Early experiences are like the foundation of a house. Later experiences are like the walls, roof, and electric connections (Nelson, 1999).*
Example: Early secure attachment predicts later romantic relationships, but so do relationships with peers later in life.*
Link 1: Brief clip featuring Charles Nelson and others discussing the early brain development and childhood adversity
Link 2: Clip discussing association attachment theory and its association with long-term relationship patterns
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

5. Why Study Child Development?
Using our knowledge of child development
Our knowledge can be used to improve the lives of children and adolescents and to foster positive development
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

6. Why Study Child Development?
Parents and families use information to understand and interact with their children.
Child Development Professionals
(for example: teachers, psychologists*, speech and language therapists, social workers, early intervention*)*
use general information, but also specialized information to work with children to promote growth and well-being.
Link 1: Youtube clip discussing the work of clinical psychologists
Link 2: Video overview of Early Intervention services
Link 3: Link to Bureau of Labor Statistics to show career outlook and related information for various careers in child development
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

7. Why Study Child Development?
Policymakers (government, organizations and citizens)* *
Social policy affects large numbers of children
(Examples: parental leave policies; WIC program*)
Link 1: Link to the Anne E. Casey Foundation and Kids Count reports
Link 2: Link to SRCD’s policy page
Link 3: Clip describing WIC program
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

8. Understanding How Development Happens
Domains of development
Physical development: the body and the brain
Cognitive development: thinking, understanding and reasoning
Social-emotional development: connecting to others and understanding feelings
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

9. Understanding How Development Happens
Ages and stages
Infancy (the first year of life)
Toddlerhood (ages 1-3)
Early Childhood (ages 3-6)
Middle Childhood (ages 6-12)
Adolescence (ages 12-18)
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

10. Issues in the Study of Development
Nature and nurture
Continuous vs. stage-like development
Stability vs. change
Individual differences
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

11. Figure 1.1: Patterns of Stability and Change
This photo demonstrates continuous change in the children’s heights, but also an aspect of stage-like development in the shift to the last 3 children who appear to be post-pubescent.
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

12. Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Quantitative vs. Qualitative Change
This photo demonstrates continuous change in the children’s heights, but also an aspect of stage-like development in the shift to the last 3 children who appear to be post-pubescent.
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

13. Issues in the Study of Development
The role of the child
Positive psychology*
Integrating themes and issues
Link 1: Brief clip of Martin Seligman discussing positive psychology and parenting
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

14. Issues in the Study of Development
Equifinality vs. Multifinality
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

15. Contexts of Development
Context is a broad term that includes all the settings in which development occurs.
Children develop in multiple contexts.
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

16. Contexts of Development
Families
Families are responsible for the socialization of children.
Some families have more resources than others
(socioeconomic status).
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

17. Contexts of Development
Schools
In many countries, schools are another important context for development.
Examples: academic skills; civic socialization
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

18. Contexts of Development
Community
Characteristics of the community in which children live impact many aspects of development.
Examples: quality of schools; neighborhood safety
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

19. Contexts of Development
Culture
Research shows some similarities in children’s development across cultures but also important differences between cultures.
Example: individualism vs. collectivism
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

20. Being a Smart Consumer of Information about Development
Knowing your sources*
Becoming a critical thinker
Guarding against generalizations
Link 1: Clip describing how to identify credible sources for research
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

21. Being a Smart Consumer of Information about Development
Avoiding perceptual bias
Getting the most from your textbook
Levine, Child Development 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.