Child Development – Unit 1

Beginners Guide for New P arents A taste of things to come Awareness of s fetchr ontogenesis From birth to adulthood youngsterren are all maturation. They develop at diverse rates but all follow the same basic human body. Physical instruction starts from the head, and works down the body to the arms and finally the legs. parley develops from crying to recogniz commensurate words and then intelligent conversation. Emotionally children are reliant on their primary caregiver until they develop an awareness of themselves and are able to socialize and function independently.These various strands of increment are non made in closing off or sequentially. Development is concurrent and holistic, therefore any deficiency in one area give the bounce affect the development in another(prenominal) areas. - flesh of child development Physical development 1. 1 a Infant0 12 months A newborn lies curled up in the fetal position, unable to give the axe head. Movements are instinctive s uch as reactions to sound or closing eyes in bright light. 3 months tail turn head to control at objects. 6 months child begins to hold up head, prevailing it steady for increased periods.Learns to grasp and hold objects, then moves them from one go to the other at will. Next fag pull body to a sitting position and stay upright when aided. 9 months is able to sit unaided. Releases toys by dropping. Uses pincer discover to pick up items. Holds feeding bottle. 12 months as the bodge gains to a greater extent body control it bum roll and crawl. Early years1 3 years The common motor skills are demonstrable as the child starts to stand with support. This come neares to standing alone for a couple of seconds. great deal walk holding one hand for support. bear walk unaided, run and jump as she develops full control of her limbs.Finer motor skills are developed such as the pincer cargo hold to pick up small objects. Is able to hold a spoon to feed themselves. Learns to hol d a crayon to scribble and then draw shapes with. talks well in sentences, clear abundant to be understood. Childhood4 7 years Learns to eat independently using a knife and fork. Motor skills are developed to the charge where a child can walk backwards. They can now walk placing heel to toe and balance themselves on a narrow beam. manual of arms dexterity now allows them to catch a ball, build structures, and draw shapes. Dress and undress with assistance, then alone.Take turns in play with friends and plays cooperatively. Could be frightened of things the likes of spiders and ghosts. Knows their left from right and how many fingers they agree. Puberty8 12 years Hormonal mixed bags are liable for a growth spurt at this duration. Gain muscles, but can still appear to lack coordination. Develop large and delicately motor skills for use in sports and hobbies. Activity increases and whitethorn want to spend more than time with colleagues rather than parents. Noticeable body channelizes take place, girls develop breasts and boys voices change. The growth of underarm and pubic hair is normal at this time.Another indicator of this stage is the development of Acne. Pre teens begin to notice the opposite sex, but prefer to stick with their own gender. Adolescence13 16 years Their own identity emerges in musical taste and clothes. Teenagers much require c doze off friendships with their peers. Are lots concerned closely how they look and what others think of them. Physical changes continue as puberty is ongoing or completed. Children drive more independent but still seek advice and guidance from parents. Teens are aware of the opposite sex and may be going out with them. negligent by their own sexualityConflict and a lowered opinion of parents emerge as jejuner tries to mature. Young Adult17 19 years More stable stirredly. Not so concerned about body once puberty ends. Develops clear sexual identity. By the end of this stage both girls and boys will establish reached physical maturity. Communication and intellectual development 1. 1 b Infant0 12 months A newborn baby cries as their only means of communication. As young babies vex no concept of time, to them all needs are urgent, and should be responded to as such.Begins to formulate concepts and is aware of the physical sensation of hunger. depart cry in order to have the need for food met. Develops different cries for a variety of needs, changing, hurting, frightened or lonely. Once they queue their voice they will make cooing noises and other sounds. Begins to take an invade in their surroundings, paying attention to toys. Uses voice to transmit faceings, with laughter when playing and screaming when annoyed. butt joint understand familiar objects and has an expectation of what they will do. Chatters away tunefully and uses voice to attract attention.Watches the actions of those round them with interest. Early years1 3 years Will learn 2 or 3 w ords that will be iterate constantly. Able to make the appropriate response to simple instructions. Goes through a trial and error process to discover what an object does. Can verbally communicate what they need. Is developing an inquiring mind about things and surroundings. Uses own personal jargon with many words unintelligible to most people. Knows the names for different parts of their body. often repeats the last word spoken by any adult in earshot. Has a growing vocabulary of over 200 words and talks to themselves continuously.Joins 2 or 3 words together to make a sentence. Can use their own name with reference to themselves. Constantly asking questions, with infantile substitution, and can relate past events to the present. Childhood4 7 years Speech becomes more confident as the substitutions decrease and full fluent speech is achieved. Can count up to twenty using repetition. Ask for the meaning of unfamiliar words. Questioning generally is at its height. Can draw a rec ognizable house and detailed people. Has a sense of time and can relate to the past, present and future.Able to write their own nameCan match colours and has an understanding of numbers. Reading skills will be developing in this stage and the child might write independently. Puberty8 12 years Speech has now developed fully. Reading and writing skills are now being refined. Able to express thoughts and discuss learning making use of language skills. Shares ideas and opinions with peer group. Speech style or jargon is important to fit in with their group. Have a fairly rigid concept of right and wrong. Adolescence13 16 years Will confide more with their peers than their parents.Increased use of speech reduces the make out of acting out. Have a good idea of their favorite sport and subjects and are well motivated in these areas. Fluctuates between con statusrable maturity and babyness. Can appear secretive at home, talkative but not very communicative. Has a stubborn unwillingn ess to compromise. Young Adult17 19 years Thinking about choices to be made regarding further education or career choice. Emerging ability to make independent decisions and able to compromise. Begins to become more self-reliant. Conversation skills are well developed and uses prior knowledge gained. Social, emotional and behavioural development 1. 1 c Infant0 12 months Creates an fond regard bond with mother. Smiles at mother and may squeal with delight. Familiar routines elicit a positive response. Responds to different tones from mother. May become shy in the company of strangers and cling to a familiar adult. Can imitate hand clapping. Understands simple commands and can wave goodbye. Will cooperate with adult dressing them. Early years1 3 years Can demonstrate signs of affection. Will participate in nursery rhymes. Now should be able to help adult with dressing.Indicates when pants are soiled or wet. Becomes emotionally dependent on a familiar adult. Drinks from a cup with both hands. At the end of this stage will gain control of bowels. May throw a burst when frustrated. Able to play co-operatively and may have imaginary friends. Tries visibly hard to please. Childhood4 7 years Child enjoys co-operative and dramatic play, taking turns. Understands the links between co-operation and competition. Can respond rationally to reasoning. Enjoys a degree of independence but still needs reassurance. Can become totally engrossed in activities.Can be concerned about being disliked. Fears develop about things under the bed or ghosts. Now able to form firm friendships. Fairly independent and confident. Puberty8 12 years They will develop a select group of friends. Friendships become firm and more settled. They seek more independence in order to understand problems themselves. Need continued praise and encouragement. Increasingly concerned about what others think about them. Will be unsure about changes in their setting. Adolescence13 16 years Bod y changes can upset self-esteem of children and make them quite vulnerable.As their bodies take on adult characteristics they still feel childlike inside. Will feel pressure from growing up and changing expectations. Some become more assured by changes in their environment. Peer pressure is a significant wreak on them. Children want to spend more time with their friends than family. Young Adult17 19 years As children enter adulthood they are still relatively inexperienced. The peer group losses importance and is re rigid by a few close friends. Mature young adults will start to listen to their parents again, asking for advice. As a sense of identity emerges they are no longer afraid to seek counseling.One on one dating becomes important. May embark on a more intimate relationship with just aboutone. Different aspects of development can affect one another 1. 2 Football A child needs to be physically developed in order to play this plunk for. They will use gross motor skills to run around and kick the ball. Hand-eye (feet-eye) coordination is also essential as the player needs to be spatially aware of where they are in relation to other things. It is no good have strong legs and great heading if you could not see where the ball was and make a connection. It is not much fun playing this game in isolation.As a team game players need to have the social skills to role the ball by taking it in turns. They have to understand the cooperation factor which is vital in a belligerent game. No one person can win a game on their own. This game consists of rules that are available off the pitch, these may be discussed orally or read by individuals. Professional teams are supported and lively banter between children will have them routing for their side. With little instructions or preventive children can communicate with each other to organise themselves into teams and have a very good game. Language It is important that babies are spoken to regularly an d candid to a variety of rich language. The more they are talked to the more responsive they will be. The more that they go steady, allows them to develop a larger and more varied vocabulary. investigate shows that there is a link between early language and literacy skills. Increased reading and writing skills can be the foundation for academic and social victor in the future. - Influences that affect childrens development Background 2. 1 a Members of your family are the most important people in your childs life.This includes siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins or even neighbours and good friends. If all is well in their world the chances are that it will be the same for your child. However things do happen that can have an effect on your childs development and you may not realize it. If a family member becomes ill or dies this can be an emotionally upsetting time not just for the adults involved, but also for the children who have formed an attachment to them. Some less obvious influences may be the anticipate birth of a sibling the introduction of a new partner or having to move home or school.You should pay attention to any change in your childs behaviour and check if their learning is being affected. Is your culture the same as the environment you are raising you child in? If not you should consider how these differences will affect your child. When English is not your first language it is helpful to your child if you encourage your child to develop this along side their mother tongue. It is important that children are able to spill, write and understand English so that they can have full access to the curriculum and make progress at the same rate as their peers. Children are known to be a very expensive to raise and educate. Not all parents have the incumbent funds to feed and cloth them adequately, let alone provide for extras. Poverty may be recognized by other children if a child does not have the latest fashion or electronic gadget at home. This may lead to a child being excluded from certain playground groups. It has been account that children from deprived circumstances do not usually do well aat school as this cushions on most areas of their development. Health 2. 1 b baleful health of a mother or baby immediately after birth can have a profound effect on a child.It is in this very early stage of life that infants need the care of a constant caregiver. Any interruption to this process stops the childs normal attachment progression. This could then result in a child struggling to form close relationships later in life. A child may be unwell occasionally and need to stay off from school for a few days. There will be cause for concern if this becomes a regular pattern. Any child who misses out on school restricts their develop amiable opportunities. A child who has a physical impairment is understandably restricted in certain areas, such as ovement in the playground and the social interactions that come w ith play. Support from adults around them is essential to help ensure they are included wherever possible. Growth and weight are primary indicators that are used by professionals to monitor the progress and well being of children. Children of the same age are often different shapes and sizes and there are a number of indicators that can explain this. For example boys are often bigger than girl, genetics may be responsible for a boy having a short stature and slight frame, or a short diet may be responsible for a child being overweight.In all these cases reference to a growth chart may provide answers or explanation for their current development position. A pattern emerges over time for each child and cause for alarm would be if there was a sudden or sharp deviation from the normal pattern. The highroad for a child who was born prematurely will initially be on a lower path than that of a full term baby however it would be expected to catch up over time. Even if this was not the case as long as the child was meeting other development goals this would not be an issue in isolation. Environment 2. 1 cWhere children live has a mark effect on their social and emotional development. Children that live in a nice, clean, graffiti free, residential area are likely to grow up stress free. They will probably live in a single family residence, in a natural setting, with room to run and exercise their gross motor skills. It is likely that they will know their neighbours giving them opportunities for all-encompassing social interactions. High rise dwellings noise and traffic pollution overcrowding and access to services, all contribute to levels of psychological distress for many children.This manifests itself indirectly as poor interactions with parents and teachers which culminate in poor language and learning development. Children are routinely exposed to noise from cars, airplanes, music and other people. It is essential for children to be able to hear pro perly in order to learn how to read. However, when they are constantly bombarded with acute noise levels they begin to ignore all auditory input. This defense mechanism has been documented by researchers who recorded significantly reduced reading and speech ability.Childrens cognitive development is also compromised by noise pollution as adults and teachers around them struggle to be heard. Teachers can become annoyed, fatigued and impatient in a loud environment. Their program line style can become compromised as they lose valuable time dealing with distractions. This indirectly deals another blow to the child chances of developing Crowding is another factor that has been noted as having a marked effect on childrens development. This phenomenon can affect the only child as well as those from large families.It comes about when a child is placed in an overcrowded situation over which they feel they have no control. Children may withdraw into themselves as a coping strategy. This may occur in a childrens activity area and result in less constructive and interactive play. Language development can be affect as parents speak less to children in crowded situations. There is also a tendency to speak in simple terms, thereby depriving them of the opportunity to hear and learn more complicated words. Importance of recognising and responding to concerns 2. As parents you are in the best position to observe and monitor how your child is developing. Conversely when you feel that there is something wrong you should practice your instincts and dont be afraid to discuss them with your doctor or health care professional. You might notice that your child never makes eye pertain with you perhaps they fail to respond to your voice or they display sudden and severe mood changes several times throughout the day. Instead of speculating what might be the problem might be on your own, a proper diagnosis is best.Early intervention will identify any problem and work towards solutions can start straight away if necessary. If you recognise that there are external issues affecting your child you should respond to them appropriately. As a parent or carer you could share your concerns with your childs teacher. This will allow them to be alert to the childs behaviour and they may be able to monitor their progress more closely for a time. It is also important to disclose changes in the family environment, such as a family break up with changes to living arrangements.As I have already said these may well have an effect on the child that the teacher can be forewarned to deal with. In some schools you may have direct access to the Special Education Needs Coordinator or the child can be referred to them via the teacher. It is endlessly a good idea to find out from the school who these people are and what is the procedure to get access to them. If you have this information available before you need it you will be able to act quickly and correctly when concern s arise. -Transitional stages experience by most children 3. 1 Being bornMilk to solidsCrawling to walkingBeing fed to feeding themselvesNappies to potty trainedUnaware to aware of selfHome to nursery greenhouse to Primary SchoolPrimary School to Senior SchoolPubertySexual awarenessChanging friendshipsHandling financesGetting a job * * Puberty * * You will need to watch out for Puberty, or adolescence as it is sometimes called. This is the natural handing over that your child will go through on the way to becoming an adult.Aside from the growth spurt that occurs at this time for both sexes, girls will have their first period, and boys experience their first wet dream (nighttime emission) and voice breaking etc. Less physical changes are the physiological, behavioural and relationships. The enormity of these changes may be overwhelming for a child who feels that there is something actually wrong with them but they are too afraid to ask anyone. The stress adolescents feel duri ng these times of change can lead them to try drink or drugs as a coping strategy. Others may experiment with substance abuse or have in risky sexual behaviour.There are various consequences that can come about from this behaviour such as contracting sexually transmitted diseases teenage pregnancy or even death from addiction overdose or suicide * * These scenarios have been well analyse and documented, they are included here not to alarm but to make you aware and equip you with pointers that will help you recognise situations that can be emotionally tough for your child. Stay involved with your child during these transitions and encourage them to talk to you about anything and everything, listen to them without judgment. Does your child feel neglected?Set aside some special time with them to show your interest and this will give you an opportunity to pick up on problems or changes in their behaviour. Prompt your child to talk about their experience or knowledge of different sub stances and the abuse of them. You have every right to know who your child is friends with and keep track of their movements. Again research has shown that children whose activities are not monitored by their parents are 4 times more likely to use drugs. Any observation of changes or disturbing behaviour should alert you to seek the help of professionals at an early stage. Experienced by some children 3. 2 A new siblingDomestic violenceBullyingEmotional abuseParents separating/divorcingSerious illness (child/parent)Family member diesUnexpected change of schoolMoving house Physical/sexual abuseSeparation from familyParent(s) in prisonLooked after by local anesthetic authorityMarriage (consensual/forced)Learn to driveGoing to universityChange group of friendsComing out as gay or lesbian * Going to University * * You might think this is great for you and your child. You have encouraged and supported them for years.They have studied hard and beat off stiff competition for a place a t the university of their choice. Nevertheless, their departure is a significant milestone for the family as it ushers in a new transition and time of separation that everyone will have to get used to. Unless the family is quite wealthy the stress of financing higher education can have a negative impact on all. The adjustment for students away from home for the first time can have an effect on their mental health. The empty nest left behind may give you as parents a feeling of loss as you relinquish some of your parental control. * The impact of university on students gives them a newfound sense of freedom as they are off the radar in terms of parental restrictions and rules. However, they will be confronted by new and different pressures as they take control of their lives. They now have to learn to live with a new family and learn how they are now to accept with this new group of people. The opportunity for study is obviously available but so is the list of other things to do and places to go. It can be a time of sensory overload as course work and parties vie for attention.As a parent you should encourage your child to explore new interests, meet new people and discover their new surroundings, with the proviso that getting an education should be the foremost concern. Encourage them to seek out professors or other adults who can keep them focused and grounded. Ensure they know where to turn for help if they do encounter problems whether they are academic or emotional. * * In the midst of students finding their independence and doing fine you may be in receipt of a tearful phone call.You may try to advise from a distance but this is not always possible. Work out ways to stay connected and involved by doing little things to remind them they are in your thoughts. Sending cards or notes with pictures of events they have missed can help to let them know they are loved and it is not a case of out of sight out of mind. * put on of transitions on childrens beha viour and development 3. 3 At some time children will have to leave the comfort of their home and move on to some form of semi formal or formal education.This might initially be at a playgroup, nursery or reception class. Whichever send off they take it is a time of major change for them and the way they handle it should be monitored closely. Children who have been used to one on one attention may struggle with having to share the teacher with the rest of their classmates. However those who have had a secure and happy upbringing will be emotionally mature enough to cope with the change. Children of a more delicate nature may regress in their behaviour and need reassurance to participate.They may suck their thumb for comfort or cling to a favorite toy or object. Sensitive handling of these actions will help them through and build up confidence to a point where learning is not hindered. Children who are looked after have been prematurely separated from parents. If this takes plac e in the formative years it is likely that they will have attachment issues. When this happens a child can become emotionally stuck at the age they were when the separation took place.This can then have a detrimental affect on how they view making attachments with others who are tasked with looking after them. The defense mechanism is now set to I will act up and refuse to engage with you just in case you up and leave me too. Every effort must be made to engage these special children and help them overcome their separate circumstances. Universities are well aware of the problems faced by students, especially in the first year, and have systems in place to deal with these transitions. References If you wish to do some more research or reading on the subject here are some of the books and websites I found useful when writing this booklet. Supporting teaching and learning in schools Louise Burnham & Brenda Baker, 2010 6 to 16 Child Development Penny Tassoni, 2007 The effects of the Physical Environment on Childrens Development Dr Gary Evans http//www. parenting. cit. cornell. edu/documents/Physical-Environment-Evans. pdf www. nhs. co. uk www. pampers. co. uk