Growth and Development in Early Childhood

Course Description

This course examines the theories, concepts, and trends related to early childhood growth and development from prenatal development through the early school years. It examines the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language and literacy development of children. It discusses both typical and atypical development of children of diverse cultural backgrounds. It includes observation and activities to guide teachers and caregivers in providing opportunities that support the physical, social, emotional, language, and cognitive development of all young children.

Topics and Objectives

Growth and Development

• Define early childhood growth and development and related terminology.
• Analyze the theories associated with childhood development.
• Analyze early childhood development from a multicultural perspective recognizing that children are best understood in the contexts of family, culture, and society.
• Identify the signs of child abuse, neglect, and distress, and the appropriate reporting procedures.

Prenatal Development, Childbirth, and Newborn

• Examine issues related to genetics, heredity, and reproductive technology.
• Examine the stages of prenatal development.
• Analyze the influence of heredity and environmental factors on prenatal development.
• Describe the stages, procedures, and complications of childbirth.
• Describe the appearance, assessment, bonding, and attachment of the newborn.
• Analyze the process of growth and development of the newborn in family and day care situations.
• Develop practices to promote individual growth and development of all newborns.

Infant Growth and Development

• Analyze the physical growth, motor development, perceptual development, and brain growth of infants.
• Analyze the cognitive and language and literacy development of infants.
• Analyze the social and emotional development of infants.
• Develop practices to promote individual growth and development of infants.

Preschool Years: Growth and Development from One to Four Years

• Analyze the physical and motor development of children during the preschool years.
• Examine the interrelationships of motor play and culture and gender differences on motor development.
• Analyze the cognitive development of children during the preschool years.
• Analyze the influence of culture and home language on language and literacy development in the preschool years.
• Analyze the social and emotional development and social and cultural competence of children in preschool years.
• Develop practices to promote individual growth and development of all children in the preschool years.

The Early School Years: Growth and Development of the Young Child

• Analyze physical growth and motor development of children in the early school years.
• Examine the promotion of anti-bias approaches and respect for culturally and linguistically diverse children in the early school years.
• Analyze the cognitive development in the early school years.
• Analyze the influence of culture and home language on language development and literacy in the early school years.
• Describe the impact of learning environments on memory and metacognition.
• Analyze the social and emotional development and social and cultural competence of children in the early school years.
• Describe the impact of self-esteem, early identity development, and moral development on children in the early school years.
• Develop practices to promote individual growth and development of all children during the early school years.