Intro to Child Intro to Child Development Development Intro to Child Intro to Child Development Development

Adapted from Chapter 1 Adapted from Chapter 1 ““The Developing Child” 7The Developing Child” 7thth

Edition Edition

Vocabulary Terms • Child development

– The study of how children grow in different ways (physically, mentally, emotionally and socially)

• Behavior – A way of acting or

responding • Nutrition

– A balance of all the food substances needed for health and growth

• Formula – A mixtures of milk or

milk substitutes and added nutrients

• Sequence – Step by step pattern

• Heredity – Passing of

characteristics that are physically inherited from previous generations

• Environment – The people, places and

things that surround and influence an individual

Rewind• What was your childhood like?

• What were your likes? Dislikes?

• What kind of relationship did you have with older children and teens?

Fast forward • How would you describe your

relationships with children in your life today?

• Do you enjoy children of all ages?

• Do children like you?

What can I do to make a difference in a child’s life?

Understanding children • As you interact with

children: – You will more fully

appreciate all characteristics of human development

– Your powers of observation will improve

– You will discover that children are fun

– You will be able to apply your learning to everyday life

– You will learn practical techniques of caring for children

– You will begin to see why children act, feel, and they as they do

How is childhood different now?

• Work

• Health and nutrition

• Dress

• Parental love

The Growth of Child Study

• There is now a great importance on understanding and guiding children

• Binet, Piaget, Freud, Gesell and Erikson have all played an important role in understanding childhood behavior

Characteristics of Development

• Similar for everyone • Builds on earlier learning• Proceeds at an individual rate • Different areas of child

development are interrelated • Continuous throughout life

Importance of Play • Physically

– Muscles in back, arms and legs develop

– Strength and balance

– Fine motor skills

• Intellectually – Gathering and

organizing

• Emotionally– Helps children

work through life’s challenges and problems

• Socially – Gradually learn to

play together

How to observe play • Choose a time and a place

• Record what you see

• Watch interactions with others

• Keep observations confidential

Influences on Development

• Heredity

• Environment

• Peers

• Community

Exit Slip On your own paper, discuss your response to the following statement:

“Only students who already are parents, plan to become parents or who want careers in child-related fields should study child development.”

Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?