The document emphasizes the importance of teachers understanding human growth and developmental principles to effectively support child and adolescent learners. It highlights that children and adolescents have unique physical, psychological, and social needs that require appropriate care and guidance, particularly during critical early years. The module introduces 12 principles of developmentally appropriate practice that future teachers should understand to facilitate optimal learning outcomes for their students.

1. CHILD AND ADOLESCENT LEARNERS AND
LEARNING PRINCIPLES
Module 1
Basic Concepts, Meaning, and Principles
Learning Targets
1. Explain the strong need for teachers to have a clear
understanding of human growth, development and learning.
2. Draw some principles of child and adolescent learning principles.
1.1 Overview
Children and adolescents are not short adults - they are
qualitatively different. They have physical, psychological and social
needs that must be met to enable healthy growth and development. The
extent to which parents, the family, the community and the society
are able to meet these developmental needs (or not) has long-term
consequences for the kinds of adults they will become.
Children need the care, protection and guidance which is normally
provided by parents or other care-givers, especially during the early
years when they are most dependent. While their emerging abilities
and capacities change the nature of this vulnerability from infancy
through adolescence, their need for attention and guidance at each
stage remains. While parents and communities have the primary
responsibility for protecting and caring for their children, and
initiating them into culturally relevant skills, attitudes and ways
of thinking, the teachers have shared responsibilities in schools to
help the learners at their full potential.

2. Thus, as future teachers, the pre-service teachers need a working
knowledge of the principles of child and adolescent development in
order to master the techniques that enable students to learn to high
standards. In this module, the 12 principles will elaborate the
developmentally appropriate practice that you need to bear in mind
when dealing with children.