Child Development Jan 6th

Course Overview

  • Course Title: Child Development

  • Date: January 6

What about the course:

  • Exploration of physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development from prenatal stages to adolescent phases.

  • Discussion of prominent psychological theories related to child development.

  • Examination of primary debates present in the field of developmental psychology, including:

    • Nature vs. Nurture: The relative contributions of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) to development.

    • Continuity vs. Stages: Whether development is a gradual, continuous process or consists of distinct stages.

    • Critical Periods vs. Sensitive Periods: The importance of specific time windows for development where certain experiences have a significant effect.

    • Life Span vs. Particular Periods Approach: The degree to which development should be viewed across the entire lifespan versus focusing on specific developmental periods.

Text Book:

  • Format: No print version available; only eBook format provided.

  • Requirement: This eBook is a required resource for the course.

Course Evaluation: Test Structure

  • Midterm Assessment: 27% of total course grade.

    • Details: Not cumulative.

    • Dates:

    • First Midterm: January 29

    • Second Midterm: March 5

  • Course Evaluation Assignment: 16% of total course grade.

    • Title: Children’s Book Analysis

    • Details Covered in Syllabus:

    • Analysis of cognitive development and social-emotional aspects based on children's literature.

    • Scaffolding dialog included in analysis.

Submission Details for Assignment:

  • Selected Book Submission Deadline: February 13.

  • Analysis of Initial 1-2 Pages from the Selected Book: Due March 10.

  • Final Paper Due Date: March 27.

Bonus Points Opportunities:

  • Research Participation: Available through the SONA student participant pool.

  • Article Summary Submission: Details provided in the syllabus.

  • Optional Book Selection Support: Available at the Orillia Public Library.

    • Workshop Date: February 12, from 2 PM to 3 PM in the Children’s section.

Overview of the Course Schedule

Key Topics Covered:

  1. Introduction to Developmental Psychology

  2. Research in Developmental Psychology

  3. Genetic Bases of Child Development

  4. Prenatal Development

Stages of Development (Ages):

  • Infants: Birth to 1 year

  • Toddlers: 1-3 years

  • Preschoolers: 3-6 years

  • Middle Childhood: 6-12 years

  • Adolescence: 10-13 years (puberty) through 18-21 years

Anticipated Topics for Upcoming Class (Thursdays):

  • Introduction to Developmental Psychology

  • Defining lifespan development

  • Exploring influences on development

  • Engaging with key debates in lifespan development

Psychological Perspectives Covered:

  • Biological Perspective: Understanding development through biological factors.

  • Psychodynamic Theory: Influences of unconscious processes and childhood experiences on development.

  • Psychosexual Theory: Freud’s stages of development and their implications for personality.

  • Psychosocial Theory: Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development from infancy to adulthood.

  • Learning Perspective: The role of environmental factors and experiences in shaping behavior.

  • Cognitive Development Perspective: The stages and processes of cognitive growth as proposed by theorists like Piaget.

  • Contextual Perspective: The influence of environmental contexts on development.

  • Ecological Systems Theory: Bronfenbrenner's model illustrating the layered contexts affecting child development.