CHILD DEVELOPMENT 7 th Grade Family and Consumer

CHILD DEVELOPMENT 7 th Grade Family and Consumer Sciences

What is child development? Child development - the biological and psychological changes that occur in people between birth and the end of adolescence. Adolescencethe period between puberty and the completion of physical g rowth which is roughly from 13 to 19 years of age. Changes in a child occur very quickly – from month to month or even from week to week!

Developmental Areas Physical Development – involves the growth of the body and the strength and coordination of muscles Large motor skills – rolling a ball or turning the page of a book. Fine motor skills – holding a crayon or using a spoon Hand-eye coordination Intellectual Development – involves the ability to think, understand, reason, and communicate Includes language skills

Developmental Areas Emotional Development – relates to emotions and children’s expressions of these emotions Social Development – refers to children’s interactions with others Sharing, getting along, making friends, etc. Moral Development – involves the understanding of right and wrong

Developmental Influences Heredity – refers to all of the traits that you have inherited from your parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Traits are passed through your genes These traits determine your body type, skin color, hair, etc. You can also inherit certain talents and personality traits

Developmental Influences Environment – what surrounds you and affects your development and behavior Family Friends Home life School Community Technology Computers Phones Television Video games

Developmental Influences A family’s level of education, income, access to health care, culture, and traditions also influence a child’s development. The parent’s culture will influence what and how children are taught.

Developmental Stages In general, development in all areas follows a general and progressive sequence. As people develop, they accomplish certain developmental milestones – skills achieved at a particular stage of life Everyone proceeds through developmental stages in the same sequence, but the rate of progress differs from person to person.

Developmental Stages Young Infants (0 - 6 months) Can look at faces and recognize caregivers’ voices Neck muscles strengthen – allowing them to hold their head up Roll over from their stomach to their back Communicate by Older Infants (6 - 12 months) Eat solid foods and drink from a cup Sit alone, crawl and stand Some begin to walk Interact more with caregivers Imitate others’ actions and facial expressions Explore items by putting them in their mouths Language has developed from cooing to babbling – usually speak their first word by their first birthday

Developmental Stages Young Toddlers (12 - 24 months or 1 - 2 years) Eat table foods and use spoons to eat Walk, climb steps without help and run (but clumsy) Roll a ball, turn pages of a book, and scribble with crayons Want independence – tell caregivers “no” frequently Need to be taught how to behave in public and to share Biting is common Using more words to communicate feelings, Older Toddlers (24 - 36 months or 2 – 3 years) Become toilet trained Dress themselves Have trouble sharing Engage in parallel play – play alongside other children but not with them Increased vocabulary Develop a conscience – inner sense of right

Developmental Stages Preschoolers (3 - 5 years) Large motor skills well developed; fine motor skills becoming more defined Develop skills they need for school Increased vocabulary Move to cooperative play – play with other children and learn to share, take turns, solve problems and control their emotions School Aged Children (5 - 12 years) Activities away from home foster independence Develop their sense of self Experience stress due to increased academic pressure Worry about school and family life Friendships become more complex Learn teamwork and compromise Can consider another person’s feelings

Developmental Stages Adolescence (13 - 19 years) Begins with puberty – changes in physical appearance Some changes can be awkward – for example: acne Physical changes can affect emotions Experience mood swings Have the ability to reason and think of alternatives to problems Friendships become more solid Relationships with the opposite sex become more important The family remains a stable base for teenagers