Studying children will help
me understand myself
by………….
• By learning more about children you
learn more about who you are.
Child Development
Chapter 1
Why is Childhood Crucial?
• Time of preparation
• Most important stage of life
– Brain develops
• Children need stimulation
– Talking
– Play
– Promote mental and physical skills
Cont.
• Child development
– The study of how children master new skills.
Children benefit from play in many ways:
Physically
Socially
Emotionally
Morally
Intellectually
Review ?
1. How can caregivers help in the development
of a child’s brain?
2. What is child development?
Critical Thinking
Why do some people get along very well with
children?
Is this due to a natural talent or is it a learned
skill?
Group Activity
• In groups of 3 or 4.
• Discuss play activities that you enjoyed as
children or that children you know enjoy.
• Discuss how this play benefits children in at
least three of the five areas described
previously discussed.
• On a legal sheet of paper illustrate these
benefits. Your poster will be displayed, so be
neat.
Why Study Children?
• Gain insight into
– human nature
• Understand how we are
– origins of adult behavior
– origins of differences
– To gain skills
– origins, prevention and treatment of
developmental problems
What Views of Children Do We Find
Throughout History?
• Ancient Times and Middle Ages
– Children viewed as innately evil
– Age 7 is the “age of reason”
– Children were treated as miniature adults
– Children were expected to work at an early
age
• Job “now” for children is to:
–Grow, learn, play
Typical portrait that as a whole (education rigid, clothing, toy) symbolizes the times
past, dramatically, terribly out of fashion. Italy, late 19th century
19th Century
20th Century
21st Century
Past & Present
• Education
– Public education for all not until early 1800’s
– Schools were small
• Included children of various age and ability
How is education different today?
Past & Present
• Health
– Disease caused the deaths of children
• Play
– Fewer toys
– Homemade toys, carved from natural materials
• Parental Love
– Parents have always worked hard to build
responsible children.
The Study of Children
• Brain Research
– caregivers
• Neurons
– Nerve cells
– Babies develop pathways that link their neurons
– Takes place quickly
• 4 days old
• 2 year old have almost as many pathways as an adult.
Theorists of Child Development