Understanding Children's Development

Product Information

Indeed, play embodies the characteristics of effective development and learning described in principles 4 and 5—active, meaningful engagement driven by children’s choices. Researchers studying the pedagogy of play have identified three key components: choice (the children’s decisions to engage in play, as well as decisions about its direction and its continuation), wonder (children’s continued engagement as they explore, gather information, test hypotheses, and make meaning), and delight (the joy and laughter associated with the pleasure of the activity, making discoveries, and achieving new things). 30 Play also typically involves social interaction with peers and/or adults.

Séguin L, Nikiéma B, Gauvin L, Zunzunegui M and Xu Q (2007) ‘Duration of Poverty and Child Health in the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development: Longitudinal analysis of a birth cohort’ Pediatrics 119 (5) 1063-1070 Gesell, A., & Thompson, H. (1938). The psychology of early growth, including norms of infant behavior and a method of genetic analysis. Macmillan Co.Saracho, O. N. (2017). Literacy and language: New developments in research, theory, and practice. Early Child Development and Care, 187(3–4), 299–304. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2017.1282235 Play is a great relationship builder. Playing with your child sends a simple message – you’re important to me. This message helps children learn about who they are and where they fit in the world. Other things that shape child development Ecological theories: Ecological theories identify the environmental systems with which an individual interacts and highlight how this interplay explains differences in individual development. Ecological perspectives underpin conceptual frameworks for assessing children’s needs (e.g. the Common Assessment Framework) as well as community-based programmes (such as Sure Start) that aim to improve children’s health and development by improving the context in which they grow up. The quality of inter-parental relationships and parenting practices are important factors in children’s development. Parental problems such as domestic violence, substance misuse and mental ill-health can have an impact on all aspects of children’s development.

Development’ means changes in your child’s physical growth. It’s also the changes in your child’s social, emotional, behaviour, thinking and communication skills. All of these areas of development are linked, and each depends on and influences the others. National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2009) Young Children Develop in an Environment of Relationships: Working paper 1. Cambridge, MA: Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University Reichling, L. (2017). The Skinner Box. Article Library. https://blog.customboxesnow.com/the-skinner-box/ Through warm, responsive relationships, your child learns vital information about themselves and their world. For example, your child learns that they’re loved, safe and secure. They also learn about what happens when they do things like cry, laugh or ask questions.

Create a new list

All these areas of development are connected. We should always think about the whole child. For example, once children learn to use words, it is much easier for them to express their emotions. And once they begin to crawl, they begin to explore more and learn about other parts of the world around them. How do you ensure that the assessment of the child informs support services and interventions for the child and that the child receives these services? Children’s relationships affect all areas and stages of their development. In fact, nurturing relationships are the foundation of healthy child development.

Developmental screening takes a closer look at how your child is developing. A missed milestone could be a sign of a problem, so when you take your child to a well visit, the doctor, nurse, or another specialist might give your child a brief test, or you will complete a questionnaire about your child. Includes opportunities: for play and interaction with other children; to have access to books; to acquire a range of skills and interests; to experience success and achievement. Involves an adult interested in educational activities, progress and achievements, who takes account of the child’s starting point and any special educational needs. Emotional and behavioural development There are number of theoretical approaches to understanding child development. These theories underpin many child and family interventions that promote positive child development. In addition to learning language and concepts about the physical phenomena in the world around them, children learn powerful lessons about social dynamics as they observe the interactions that educators have with them and other children as well as peer interactions. Well before age 5, most young children have rudimentary definitions of their own and others’ social identities that can include awareness of and biases regarding gender and race. 48Saracho, O. N. (2020). An integrated play-based curriculum for young children. Routledge/Taylor and Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429440991 Children need to feel successful in new tasks a significant proportion of the time to promote their motivation and persistence. 62 Confronted by repeated failure, most children will simply stop trying. Repeated opportunities to practice and consolidate new skills and concepts are also essential for children to reach the threshold of mastery at which they can go on to use this knowledge or skill, applying it in new situations. Play (especially in intentionally designed environments with carefully selected materials) provides young children with opportunities to engage in this type of practice. The best-known ecological theory is that of Urie Bronfenbrenner (1979), whose ecological systems theory explains how everything in a child’s environment affects growth and development. He labelled different levels of the environment as shown in the illustration: Kamii, C., & DeVries, R. (1978/1993.) Physical knowledge in preschool education: Implications of Piaget’s theory. Teachers College Press. Learn about how to build structure and consistency in your child’s everyday routines to support their development.

Spodek, B., & Saracho, O. N. (1994). Right from the start: Teaching children ages three to eight. Allyn & Bacon.Your child’s development is supported by positive relationships with friends and neighbours, and access to playgrounds, parks, shops and local services like child care, playgroups, kindergartens, schools, health centres and libraries. Child development: differences among children Image source: Bronfenbrenner, ecological systems theory, King’s College London, Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery