{"id":2607,"date":"2025-08-27T00:36:45","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T00:36:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/?page_id=2607"},"modified":"2025-08-27T00:36:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T00:36:45","slug":"tip-sheet-using-child-development-primer-for-staff-orientation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/tip-sheet-using-child-development-primer-for-staff-orientation\/","title":{"rendered":"Tip Sheet &#8211; Using Child Development Primer for Staff Orientation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Using Child Development Primer for Staff Orientation<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"979\" height=\"854\" src=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/files\/2025\/08\/image-4.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3637\" style=\"width:513px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/files\/2025\/08\/image-4.png 979w, https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/files\/2025\/08\/image-4-300x262.png 300w, https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/files\/2025\/08\/image-4-768x670.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 979px) 100vw, 979px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>SECD\u00a0Child Development Primer <\/strong>is a concise overview of essential child development information. It is an ideal resource for those who need a brief overview of child development or who want a better understanding of key concepts related to working with young children.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Are you new to working with children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The SECD Child Development Primer is an excellent place to start learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each Primer page is concise and easy to go through \u2013 even for people without much background in child development or experience with children. The combination of things to read, videos to watch and questions to think about, along with interactive games to play, make the Primer a fun and engaging way to learn. The ideas that follow are examples of ways to incorporate Primer material into staff orientation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To get an introduction to child development and why knowing development is so important, go to the first page, <strong><em>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/allied-health\/focus-on-child-development\/\">Focus on child development<\/a>\u201d<\/em><\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Watch the videos, &#8220;Kehl \u2013 understanding child development&#8221; and &#8220;James \u2013 holistic development&#8221;. Each describe the importance of knowing development as well as how different parts of development impact one another. Also note the dimensions of the Medicine Wheel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Watch the three videos, \u201cInfancy\u201d, \u201cToddlerhood \u2013 Ages one and two\u201d and \u201cPreschoolers\u201d, which show scenes of children starting with newborns and progressing to six-year-olds. As you watch, pay attention to what children are doing at each age. Use the accompanying worksheet to write down what you notice so you can reflect on the ways children change in the early years.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To delve more deeply into children\u2019s skills and abilities as they develop, go to the pages, <strong><em>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/allied-health\/cdp-perspectivesonchilddevelopment\/\">Perspectives on early child development<\/a>\u201d <\/em><\/strong>and <strong><em>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/allied-health\/cdp-patternsofdevelopment\/\">Patterns of development<\/a><\/em><\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In the &#8220;Perspectives on early child development&#8221; see \u201cWestern theories of child development\u201d for a detailed reading on theoretical perspectives espoused by influential thinkers such as Freud, Bandura, Piaget, Ainsworth and Bronfenbrenner. Watch \u201cMehta \u2013 developmentalism\u201d and consider the multiple contexts where children learn and grow that contribute to their own unique experiences and development. Read and watch the video called \u201cHardware \u2013 intersectionality\u201d to learn about Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Then, see \u201cFrom theories to research\u201d for readings that explain the scientific method, and typical research designs and methods used in studies of child development.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to the \u201cPatterns of development\u201d page, which presents several ways to learn about the skills and abilities that are typical of most children at a given age. Click through \u201cInteract \u2013 Developmental Milestones\u201d, do the readings and explore the websites. Be sure to watch the video, \u201cAteah \u2013 milestones and safety\u201d and consider how being aware of milestone progression connects to safety considerations.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To learn about and practice recording anecdotal observations, go to the page, <strong><em>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/allied-health\/cdp-observingyoungchildren\/\">Observing young children<\/a>\u201d<\/em><\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Read the information on this page to learn about the key details to include in an observation, the importance of writing objectively, and the difference between an objective description and a subjective interpretation.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use the videos on this page to practice writing objective observations. Try both \u201clive\u201d &#8211; writing the record as you watch the video, and also \u201cremembered\u201d \u2013 writing the record after the video ends. You can use the worksheet provided. Be sure to think about the questions that follow the videos to consider how to best use observation in your work.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To work towards using positive guidance, go to the page, <strong><em>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/allied-health\/cdp-positiveguidance\">Positive guidance<\/a>\u201d<\/em><\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Read, watch, and consider the information on this page for an overview discussion on positive guidance. Reflect on whether you have a natural tendency to be a \u201cpositive guide\u201d in your interactions with children or whether you tend to be more negative or harsh. How can you make positive guidance and supportive interactions your usual style?&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review the reading, \u201cFrequently Asked Questions About Time-Outs\u201d. Were you aware of the concerns associated with time-out as a guidance strategy? Think about how you might use \u201ctime-in\u201d instead, when a child needs support to calm down or modify what they are doing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See the video, \u201cKatz \u2013 communication\u201d and \u201cInteract \u2013 The positive alternative\u201d to find out how to be a clear, direct, and positive communicator.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To understand play as a critical activity of childhood, go to the page, <strong><em>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/allied-health\/cdp-understandingplay\/\">Understanding play<\/a>\u201d<\/em><\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Read about stages of play. Consider the different ways children use objects in their play and whether children interact with others during play. Think about all the developmental advances that are required for children to engage in more complex and more advanced social play. Play the review game to check your understanding.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review the section on the importance of play. Think about your role and responsibility to provide a variety of play experiences for children.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To continue learning, see other SECD resources for dozens of topics and hundreds of videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Using Child Development Primer for Staff Orientation&nbsp; \u00a0 The SECD\u00a0Child Development Primer is a concise overview of essential child development information. It is an ideal resource for those who need a brief overview of child development or who want a better understanding of key concepts related to working with young children.\u00a0 Are you new to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-text-only.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2607","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2607","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2607"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2607\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3655,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2607\/revisions\/3655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2607"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}