The document provides an overview of key concepts and areas studied in child development including the best ways to learn about children and three areas of childhood that researchers have studied. It discusses why learning about child development is important by creating positive impacts on children's lives. The document also outlines typical behaviors at different childhood stages and how caregivers provide crucial support in children's physical, intellectual, and social development.

1. Learning about Children
Chapter 1
- Section 1.1
Key Concepts
• Explain the best way to learn about children.
• Identify three areas of childhood that researchers have
studied

2. Why Learn About Child Development?
 Create a list of three reasons you want to learn
about child development.
 How do you hope what you learn in this class
might make a difference in children’s lives?

3. The cure for crime is NOT in the
electric chair, but in the high chair!
The future is determined by the
outcome of parenting!

4. A few headlines:
▫ Couple in trouble for letting dog harm kids…
▫ Texas mom accused of leaving her kids in
Nigeria…
▫ Coroner says bleeding from trauma killed girl, 2;
Mom claims innocence…
▫ Foster Care judges swamped…

5. So…
• What are some solutions?
• How will YOU prevent this from happening in
your family?

6. Your Impact on Children
• Have you ever really thought about the process
by which children grow up and become
independent adults?
• People and events shape who children become.
• Studying child development will help you learn
how you can make a positive difference in a
child’s life.

7. Benefits of Studying Children
• As you learn more about how children grow and
develop, you will understand them better.
▫ Learn why children feel, think, and act the way
they do.
▫ Discover caregivers’ importance.
▫ Enjoy children more.
▫ Learn about career opportunities.

8. Typical Behavior
• A way of acting or responding that is common at
each stage of childhood
• Understanding these behaviors can help you
respond to children more appropriately.

9. Caregivers provide children
•
•
•
•
Affection needed for physical growth
Stimulation for learning
How to know right from wrong
How to get along with others

10. The word “Childhood” means many
different things to different people.
• Depends in part on what your own childhood
was like.
▫ A carefree time of security…
▫ A time of hardship…
• For everyone Childhood is a time of rapid
development, dependence on caregivers, and
preparation for adult life.

11. • “Children need people in order to become
human…It is primarily through observing,
playing and working with others older and
younger than himself that a child discovers both
what he can do and who he can become.”
◦ Urie Brofenbrenner, psychologist and family advocate

12. Childhood has not always been
considered a separate, important
stage of life.
• Before the 20th century:
▫ Nothing special or important about the early years
▫ Children were meant to be “seen and not heard.”
▫ Little was known about the emotional and
intellectual needs of children.
• Changing attitudes, social changes, and
advances in technology and medicine have
changed views about childhood.

13. Children in the past/Children Today

14. Families in the past/Families Today

15. Education in the past/Education Today

16. Childhood Past and Present
Past
Present
• Health: many childhood
diseases lead to death in
almost every family
• Education: single
classrooms. School not
required until 1918
• Love: unchanged
• Work: children were expected
to work at an early age.
• Play: few toys and most
handmade
• Dress: formal
• Health: many diseases
controlled and better nutrition
• Education: Grouped by
age/ability. Required to
attend school.
• Love: unchanged
• Work: laws ban children from
working adult jobs
• Play: endless toys and it is the
how children learn
• Dress: casual

17. Why is Childhood Crucial?
• Childhood is a time of preparation for
adulthood.
• Recent research has shown that early childhood
may be the most important life stage for brain
development.

18. Why I Took Child Development?
• Write a paragraph, at least 10
sentences, explaining why you took child
development.
• Then answer these questions:
▫ What do you hope to learn?
▫ Are there topics you’d like to discuss?