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Ch. 1 Learning About ChildrenCh. 1 Learning About ChildrenCh. 1 Learning About ChildrenCh. 1 Learning About Children

Children the Early YearsChildren the Early Yearsby Celia Anita Deckerby Celia Anita Decker

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Students will be able toStudents will be able to

• List reasons for learning about children.List reasons for learning about children.• Define the term child development.Define the term child development.• Summarize the six stages of the individual life cycle that Summarize the six stages of the individual life cycle that

involve children.involve children.• Describe three factors that promote growth & development.Describe three factors that promote growth & development.• Explain how brain development occurs.Explain how brain development occurs.• Identify differences in the rate of growth & development.Identify differences in the rate of growth & development.• Explain and give examples of some major principles and Explain and give examples of some major principles and

theories of growth and development.theories of growth and development.• Develop observation skills.Develop observation skills.

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Introduction Child development is one of the most

fascinating subjects you can study. Children are constantly changing and discovering.

They are also curious and creative.

Learning about children will help you better understand them as well as yourself. As you learn, you will see that children go through many stages of growth and development.

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• Studying children will also help you learn positive ways to care for them.

• People like to think they live in a child-centered society-a society that sees children as important, cares about their well-being, and works to meet their needs.

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• Some children experience harm through abuse and neglect.

• Children need safe environments (homes, schools, & other places) where they can develop to their full potential

Why Study Children?Why Study Children?Why Study Children?Why Study Children?

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1. To Understand Yourself!

2. To Be a Responsible Parent

3. The Protection of Children's Rights

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Needs of ChildrenNeeds of ChildrenNeeds of ChildrenNeeds of Children

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Physical Needs

• The right diet and foods to nourish their growing, active bodies

• Well fitting clothes

• Shelter & protection

• Proper health & medical care

Intellectual Needs

a. Parents need to provide enriching and positive

experiences for children.

b. These experiences can motivate children and help them learn and

develop skills they need to survive.

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Social Needs

• Learning to form relationships is a key social need.

• All children need to form strong relationships with their parents.

• These relationships help them feel secure and teach them how to respond and relate to other people.

• Children need a sense of belonging. Parents must socialize or train children to live as part of the group.

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• Parents must teach children about their culture, way of life.

• Teach them about their culture because each culture will have it’s own language, beliefs, attitudes, personal priorities, rituals, and skills.

• Help children learn what the culture expects of its members.

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Trust Needs• Children need to feel they

can cope with the demands of family, friends, and society.

• Being able to trust their parents helps children gain confidence.

Love & Guidance Needs• Children need love & support

from their parents.

• Parents must listen to their children, set limits and share reasons for the limits.

• This helps them develop character, the principles and beliefs that guide one’s conduct and define one’s personality and behavior .

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The Protection Right The Protection Right of Childrenof Children

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• Children are easily hurt because they are physically weaker than adults and also they cannot reason as adults do.

• The Convention on the Rights of the Child wrote 54 articles that set out the rights of children in the world.

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An Identity: government should protect children’s names, family ties, and nationalities.

A Family: children should live with their parents unless it is not in their best interest; parents have the responsibility for raising children with government support.

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Express themselves and have access to information: right to express their views; have freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; and obtain information.

A safe & healthy life: the right to life; the government should do all it can to make sure children survive and develop; have access to medical services and a decent standard of living.

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Special protection in times of war: refugees are entitled to special protection; those under 15 yrs. old should not take part in armed conflict.

An education: primary education should be free and secondary education should be accessible to all children.

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Special care for the disabled: those with disabilities have the right to special care, education, and training.

Protection from abuse: children should be protected from abuse and neglect. Governments shall be involved with laws and programs concerned with the abuse of children.

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Protection from discrimination:All rights apply to all children, children have the right to practice their own cultures, religions, and languages.

Protection from harmful work: children have the right to rest, play, and participation in cultural and artistic activities. They should be protected from work that threatens their health, education and development.

Special treatment if arrested: children are entitled to assistance and treatment that respects their rights.

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What is Child Development?

• Development is the gradual process through which babies become adults.

• Child development is the scientific study of children from conception to adolescence.

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• Child development focuses on changes that occur in children over time.

• Changes occur in both growth and behaviors.

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• Growth is a change in size, such as height, or in quantity, such as vocabulary.

• Change in behavior include any change in motor, thinking, and social-emotional skills.

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To Work With Children

• Anyone in a child-related field should know about all aspect of child development.

• Learning more about children allows people in child related careers to serve them better.

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The Individual Life The Individual Life CycleCycle

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• Individual life cycle is the cycle of stages of changes people experience throughout life.

• Experts divide life into age related stages. These stages were chosen based on changes in growth and behavior that occur as a result of age.

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Prenatal Stage• Begins at conception and ends

about nine months later at birth.

• Growth rate is the fastest it will be in life.

• A child grows from a single cell to a complete organism.

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Neonatal Stage

• Extends from birth through the second week.

• The baby physically adapts to life outside the mom’s body.

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Infancy Stage

• Begins at two weeks and continues through the first birthday (12 months).

• The infant develops the foundation for motor, thinking, language, and social skills.

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Toddler Stage

• Begins at 12 months (1 year) and ends at 36 months (3 years)

• Great strides are made in motor, thinking and language skills. Child begins to test his or her independence on adults.

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Preschool Stage

• 3 years old until 6 years old

• The child becomes more self sufficient. He may spend many hours in play exploring the world.

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School-Age Stage• 6 years to 12 years old

• Typical ages of children in elementary school years

• Achievement is the central goal of these years

• Mastery of the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic are achieved

• Exposed to many other school learning – sharing, caring, interacting with others

• Children begin to interact with peers more and learn by group instruction

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Factors Than Factors Than Influence Growth & Influence Growth &

DevelopmentDevelopment

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• Heredity…includes all the traits that are passed to a child from blood relatives. A child’s surrounding also play a large role.

• Environment…all conditions that surround and affect a child.

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Heredity

• Genes…sections of the DNA molecule found in a persons’ cells that determine the individual traits the person will have.

• Genetics…the study of the factors involved in the passing of traits from one generation to the next.

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• All people change with time

• They grow and develop certain skills and behaviors in expected sequence called Stages.

• People do not advance in all areas of development at the same rate.

• Development acceleration is when a child performs like an older child.

• Sometimes unfavorable conditions can delay most areas of development.

• Development delay is when a child performs like a younger child.

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Principles of Principles of Growth & Growth &

DevelopmentDevelopment

Principles of Principles of Growth & Growth &

DevelopmentDevelopment

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• Principles of Growth & Development…Statements of the general patterns in which growth and development take place in people.– Constant– Gradual & Continuous– Sequenced Steps– Different Rates– Interrelated Parts

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Constant

• Constancy is when a person’s growth & development is unchanging.

• Traits controlled by heredity do not change and people often live in the same environment for years.

• Ex.: traits that children possess today are a good hint –but not proof – of traits that will be present in the future.

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Gradual & Continuous

• Changes that happen occur in little, unbroken steps.

• Ex.: learning to walk (pull up, creep on all fours, stand to feet, stand without support, take a step.)

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Sequenced Steps

Change must build on what is already learned.

• Sequenced steps…in growth & development that follow one another in a set order.

• Teachable moment…time when a person can learn a new task because the body is physically ready, caregivers encourage and support, and the child feels a strong desire to learn.

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Different Rates

• Rates will vary on each child differently. Some quick and some slow.

• Heredity determines different growth rates.

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Interrelated

• All aspects (physical, emotional, social, intellectual) interact in complex ways all together.

Theories of Growth Theories of Growth & Development& Development

Theories of Growth Theories of Growth & Development& Development

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Abraham Maslow

• Maslow was a noted psychologist, and he believed that human development is a result of meeting personal needs.

• His theory states all people work to fulfill basic needs and then higher-level needs.

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It’s a Pyramid!

Hierarchy of Human Needs - this means the lower level needs (the basic needs) must be somewhat fulfilled before higher level needs can be pursued. A person can move up and down they Pyramid as their life circumstances change.

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Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs

Need for air, water, food, clothing, shelter, medical care

Feel safe in surroundings

Support, assurance, praise, acceptance

Be liked and respected

All needs have been fulfilled to some degree