growth and development. child development o the study of a child from conception to age 18

Growth and Development

Child Development

OThe study of a child from Conception to age 18

Stages of DevelopmentO Infancy

O Birth to 12 monthsO Toddler

O 12 months to 3 yearsO Preschool

O 3 years to 6 yearsO School Age

O 6 years to 12 yearsO Adolescents

O 13 years to 18 years

Growth

OA child’s physical increase in size or amount that is easily observed

Development

OThe ability of a child to do things that are complex and difficult

Laws of Growth and Development

A. Growth proceeds from head to footO Lift head, pick up objects, walk to objects

B. Growth proceeds from near to farO Scoot body, wave arms, grab objects, pick up

objects

C. Growth proceeds from simple to complex

O sleeping, being fed, holding bottle, feeding self

D. Growth is continuous and orderlyO Both legs grow at the same time and rate

Generalizations of Growth and Development

O Every child grows in his/her own unique way

O Every individual normally passes through every stage of development

O Behavior is causedO Learning must wait on maturationO Whenever an act results in a feeling

of satisfaction, the act is likely to be repeated

Areas of Development

OPhysicalOCognitiveOSocialOEmotionalOMoral

Physical development

OMuscle coordination and controlOGrowth in size and proportion

Ex: child rolling over, lifting its head, sitting up, kicking or catching a ball

Cognitive Development

OAbility of the brain to take in and process information

Ex: child recognizing their name, recognizing a parent, recognizing when they shake a rattle it will make noise

Social Development

OA child learning and discovering the expectations and rules for interacting with others

Ex: child smiling at mother, child learning to share a toy

Emotional Development

OAbility to recognize and understand feelings and how to respond to them appropriately

Ex: child feeling jealousy to a new baby, feeling love for another person, being afraid of the dark

Moral Development

O Identifying personal values

Ex: Right vs. Wrong, behaving according to what others need or want, respecting human rights, developing principles to guide behavior

Why do we observe children?

O To gain a deeper understandingO To get to know a specific child betterO To assess children developmentally

and compareO To identify special needsO To assess teaching skills