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?
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