1. Focus on child development
Think about watching a child grow from being a helpless newborn to a very capable school age child. As you consider the transformation you can start to appreciate the remarkable changes that are part of human development. Throughout early life there are gradual and also distinct changes that take place. The study of human development is often broken down into life-cycle stages – each stage with key features. The reading below shows one way to chart early human development according to ages and general characteristics. Keep in mind that while categorizing and labeling stages helps us organize our discussion of early development, there is a great deal of individual variation.
In the next videos, you will see children from early infancy through the preschool years. Pay attention to the differences you see in the children at the different ages. Click here for a worksheet to write down what you notice about the children at each age.
View | Toddlerhood montage Not available in this preview
View | Preschool montage Not available in this preview
What are your impressions about the changes that take place through these years?
Many researchers regard the years from conception through early schooling as the prime period for impacting lifelong health and well-being. Listen now as Lillian Katz, professor emerita at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, characterizes early childhood as a time to build the foundation for the individual’s future.
Adults who understand child development concepts and practices are participating in building a strong foundation for all children.
Consider these examples…
Anna and her seven-month-old daughter, Katelyn, visit a family resource program in their neighbourhood twice a month. There is a discussion group for parents while child care is provided in a lovely playroom. There are usually nine other infants and toddlers with three caregivers. Anna is concerned because all the other children seem to settle in quickly but Katelyn sobs when Anna puts her in the arms of one of the caregivers. She calms down eventually but Anna wonders if they should stop attending the program.
Since he was born, Dominic’s parents have described him as “an angel”. He is a generally happy child who loves to play outside. Dominic was out of diapers for both day and nighttime shortly before his third birthday. He recently turned four and started having toilet accidents – it seems like he can’t make it to the bathroom in time. His parents are not sure how to handle this and wonder if they should have him wear diapers for a while to “take the pressure off”.
Children do not come with instructions! As the previous two examples demonstrate, parents and caregivers of young children are faced with a steady stream of questions. For some questions, there may be many “right” answers – in other words, many different ways to tackle the issue. Having an understanding of child development makes it easier to consider the various possibilities and respond in a supportive, effective way. Listen to this example, from Joan Durrant.
As Durrant says, adults who understand normal developmental expectations, needs and abilities, can consider children’s motivations and make sense of their behaviour. The following pages provide background information to help people start to understand child development and how to guide and support young children. This discussion begins with a review of theories and the scientific method for testing theories, then considers developmental domains and milestones and concludes with a look at issues related to observation, guidance, and the importance of play to child development. Before you look at those pages, try the game below to check how familiar you are with the material.
