{"id":16,"date":"2011-10-25T14:09:34","date_gmt":"2011-10-25T19:09:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/bd-placeholder\/bd-3-2-observing-childrens-development\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T22:56:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T22:56:27","slug":"bd-3-2-observing-childrens-development","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/bd-3-2-observing-childrens-development\/","title":{"rendered":"BD 3.2 Observing children&#8217;s development"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2011\/10\/BS1969_JPG-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Young child walking through pile of leaves.\" class=\"wp-image-477\" title=\"BS1969_JPG\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2011\/10\/BS1969_JPG-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2011\/10\/BS1969_JPG.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Understanding children and responding appropriately is key to the kind of responsive care that nourishes early brain development. Although children are \u2018wired\u2019 to interact with others from birth, young children\u2019s social signals are not always obvious, especially when they are preverbal.&nbsp;Becoming a skilled observer is key to understanding a child\u2019s perspective. Children experience the world differently. They see with fresh eyes and experience the world on their own terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Watch these interactions between seven-month-old Lucy and her Dad.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-thumbnail-ZKr3es wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-thumbnail\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"video-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2022\/06\/90179732-1.jpg\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Maybe later (0:51)<\/span>      \n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\"><iframe frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90179732?api=1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-thumbnail-Z1vH9Rj wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-thumbnail\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"video-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2022\/06\/90179580.jpg\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Scene: ABC (1:24)<\/span>      \n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\"><iframe frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90179580?api=1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-1qRsH2 wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p>In the first scene, how does Lucy communicate&nbsp;she is not that interested in playing right now?&nbsp;In the second scene, how does Lucy communicate what she wants?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How does her father show he is attuned to her signals in the second scene?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How is this experience-based brain development?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The first several years of a child\u2019s life have been shown to be central in brain, behaviour and socio-emotional development. During the early years, children rapidly acquire new motor, verbal, socio-emotional, and cognitive skills that are accompanied by changes in their parental needs. As children develop and even as they enter adolescence and adulthood, parents are expected to adjust and adapt their parental strategies and behaviours to comfort, stimulate, discipline, and support and direct their children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Positive, warm, and responsive caregiving have been demonstrated to buffer children from various environmental adversities and subsequent negative outcomes. However, lack of warmth and responsivity from caregivers, including harsh disciplinary practices and negative reactive caregiving, are related to externalizing behavioural problems, aggression and negative cognitive outcomes. These can subsequently contribute to an increased risk of child psychopathology, obesity, depression and\/or anxiety as well as other chronic health related-illnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"926\" src=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2024\/01\/IMG_0268-2-1024x926.jpg\" alt=\"Smiling adult facing child eating snack.\" class=\"wp-image-13548\" style=\"width:250px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2024\/01\/IMG_0268-2-1024x926.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2024\/01\/IMG_0268-2-300x271.jpg 300w, https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2024\/01\/IMG_0268-2-768x695.jpg 768w, https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2024\/01\/IMG_0268-2-1536x1389.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2024\/01\/IMG_0268-2-2048x1852.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>At the foundation of responsive caregiving (e.g., by parents and early childhood educators), is an affective-emotional approach that includes high levels of warmth, nurturing behaviour and positive affection. Importantly, these responses are contingently associated to the child\u2019s <strong><em>cues<\/em><\/strong> and <strong><em>signals<\/em><\/strong> and recognition of a child\u2019s unique character. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Tracie Afifi, a professor in Community Health Sciences and Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba, explains how understanding child development and being able to recognize a child\u2019s signals and cues are central to positive parenting approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-2we86F wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Afifi &#8211; positive parenting approaches (2:08)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/855458416\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-afifi-positive-parenting-approaches\/\" target=\"_blank\">Afifi &#8211; positive parenting approaches &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Observations are more meaningful if they are based on knowledge of child development. Children are individuals, but knowing about what to expect at different ages is helpful to parents, early childhood educators and teachers.&nbsp; For example, often caregivers are overwhelmed with what they consider negative behavior. In the next clip, Dr. Joan Durrant,&nbsp;professor emerita of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba,&nbsp;explains how parents can view&nbsp;their&nbsp;child&#8217;s negative behaviour from a different perspective if they have some understanding of the development of emotional behavior and what that behavior means in terms of how their child is growing and changing.&nbsp;It is a good reminder for anyone who works with young children.&nbsp;Understanding and warmly responding to the child&#8217;s cue, either positive or negative, is important in supporting and guiding their development.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-Zsepdp wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Durrant &#8211; understanding child development (1:11)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90189570?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-durrant-understanding-child-development\/\" target=\"_blank\">Durrant &#8211; understanding child development &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The following website from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention gives a sense of what to expect of children at different ages.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-explore-1ptFSH wp-block-lazyblock-explore\"><div class=\"explore context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/act-early\/milestones\/?CDC_AAref_Val=https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ncbddd\/actearly\/milestones\/\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">EXPLORE<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">CDC &#8211; Developmental Milestones<\/span>\n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The next reading, <em>A Child Becomes Strong<\/em>, provides culturally specific teachings and information about child development within a First Nations context. Learn about the stages of life, and the child rearing practices that support healthy child development.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-read-Z19l5pc wp-block-lazyblock-read\"><div class=\"read context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/resources.beststart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/K12-A-child-becomes-strong-2020.pdf\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">READ<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">A child becomes strong: Journeying through each stage of the life cycle<\/span><\/span>      \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/play\/files\/2018\/12\/TheGoodLife.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/play\/files\/2018\/12\/TheGoodLife-300x186.png\" alt=\"Circle divided into four sections white, grey, darker grey, and black. Seven labels around the outside, clockwise from 12:00 position are: The good life, The fast life, The wandering and wondering, The stages of truth, Planting and planning, Doing, and The elder, Giving back life.\" class=\"wp-image-6430\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Click to enlarge. Source: Best Start Resource Centre (2010)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>As we see in this reading, the first stage of life is referred to as &#8220;The Good Life&#8221;. It is a very important stage in which parents, grandparents, Elders all play an important role in the child&#8217;s development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the next video, Anne Rundle, a child development curriculum developer and consultant, describes &#8220;The Good Life&#8221; and some of the ceremonies and celebrations unique to this period.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-1WXSiz wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Rundle &#8211; Indigenous perspectives on child development (1:21)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/275694144?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-rundle-indigenous-perspectives-on-child-development\/\" target=\"_blank\">Rundle &#8211; Indigenous perspectives on child development &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recognizing stress cues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As discussed earlier in this module, excessive stress can be particularly harmful to children&#8217;s development and long-term well being.&nbsp;The organization Strong Minds Strong Kids: Psychology Canada has some excellent resources to help parents and educators <strong>notice and understand<\/strong> stress in children&#8217;s&nbsp;lives and how to help them deal with stress. These resources are available, below.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-explore-Z1szuA0 wp-block-lazyblock-explore\"><div class=\"explore context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/strongmindsstrongkids.org\/en\/library-parenting-tips-strategies\/\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">EXPLORE<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Strong Minds Strong Kids: Psychology Canada &#8211; Stress spotlight<\/span>\n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Dr. Megan Gunnar, of the University of Minnesota, discusses some of the effects on the brain when children are inundated with stressful experiences. It helps us understand why we need to pay careful attention to&nbsp;children who face&nbsp;adversity.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-Z7BTlR wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Gunnar &#8211; prefrontal cortex (2:00)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90193819?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-gunnar-prefrontal-cortex-2\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gunnar &#8211; prefrontal cortex &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-key-full-2gTDaj wp-block-lazyblock-key-full\"><div class=\"key-full\">\n\n\n<p>High quality early childhood programs for children are based on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A sound knowledge and appreciation of child development theories and principles, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A deep and respectful appreciation for the interests and qualities of the particular children in their care.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Careful observation of children is a key way to ensure these components are in place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-further-full-k4aWC wp-block-lazyblock-further-full\"><div class=\"further-full\">\n<div class=\"wtkm\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Zero to Three website uses research about how the brain develops to provide parents, child care providers and paediatric and family clinicians with practical suggestions of how to support children\u2019s development.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-explore-Z1wMCSW wp-block-lazyblock-explore\"><div class=\"explore context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zerotothree.org\/\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">EXPLORE<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Zero to Three: Empowering Early Childhood Development<\/span>\n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development has developed extensive resources for parents and practitioners. Their <em>Encyclopedia on Early Childhood&nbsp; Development<\/em> has summaries of the latest research in many areas of child development and is referenced several times within the Science of ECD.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-explore-Z1M9Bve wp-block-lazyblock-explore\"><div class=\"explore context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.child-encyclopedia.com\/\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">EXPLORE<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development<\/span>\n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Understanding children and responding appropriately is key to the kind of responsive care that nourishes early brain development. Although children are \u2018wired\u2019 to interact with others from birth, young children\u2019s social signals are not always obvious, especially when they are preverbal.&nbsp;Becoming a skilled observer is key to understanding a child\u2019s perspective. Children experience the world [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":55,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-16","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16"}],"version-history":[{"count":108,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16296,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16\/revisions\/16296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}