Mary's HomepageEarly Childhood Development

 

Catalog Course Description

A study of the growth and development of the child from prenatal period to puberty, with a strong emphasis on the first six years of life.  A supervised laboratory experience will provide opportunity for implementation of theory.
 

Course Objectives

· Write observations on preschool children, during the lab portion of class, using the developmental terminology of Piaget, Erikson and Vygotsky.
· Describe or assess growth and development of children from birth to age six using the developmental levels from at least three different early childhood theories for reference.
· Write a case study on a specific child based on observational data compiled in the lab section of class.
· State the importance of knowing normal growth patterns for preschool children and how it relates to typical or atypical behavior.
· Identify verbally, or in written form, the effects of poor prenatal health care in the young child.
· List typical or average motor behaviors for children in the preschool years.
· Identify problems of both parents and children that are related to attachment and separation.
· Identify problems of both parents and children that are related to birth order and sibling rivalry.
· Identify the difference between aggression and normal healthy assertion common during the early years.
· Identify the sensori-motor, preoperational, concrete and formal operational stages of Jean Piagetâs theory of cognitive development.
· Identify the various stages of Erik Eriksonâs theory of psycho-social development.
· Research a chosen topic in child development and compile a research paper.
 

Required Text

UNDERSTANDING CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 5th edition, Rosalind Charlesworth, Delmar, Albany, New York, 2000.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ANNUAL EDITIONS, 21st edition, Dushkin/McGraw Publishers, 2002-2003.
 
 

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