CHILD BEHAVIOUR AND DEVELOPMENT

Overview

Course description

This course provides an introduction to the process of development from conception to puberty. The major focuses are on developmental theory, descriptive changes in physical growth, cognition, language, social and emotional behaviour of children and applications of the research and theory.

Course content

1. Introduction to Child Development

Historical accounts

Controversies

Major developmental theories

Methods of research employed in child development

2. Biological Beginnings

Heredity

Environment

3. Stages of Development

Prenatal

Birth and infancy

Early childhood/preschool years

Middle childhood/school years

4. Aspects of Physical Development

Nutritional needs and eating behaviour

Height and weight

Gross and fine motor skills

Sleep

Exercise

5. Aspects of Cognitive Development

Piagets Theory of Development

Information processing

Individual differences

Language development

Intelligence

Vygotsky’s Theory

6. Aspects of Socio/Emotional Development

Families

Play

Gender

Moral development

Peer relations

Self-understanding, self-concept

Learning activities

The course will employ a number of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives and will include some of the following:

- lectures

- seminar presentations

- audio visual materials including video, 16 mm film, etc.

- small group discussions

- research projects

- practical conditioning demonstrations

Means of assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. Evaluation will be based on course objectives and will include some of the following: quizzes, multiple choice exams, essay type exams, term paper of research project, class participation, seminar discussion, oral presentation, etc. The specific evaluation criteria will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.

An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:

4 quizzes 40%

Mid term exam 15%

Term paper 15%

Oral presentation 5%

Seminar attendance and participation 5%

Final exam 20%

100%

Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of research methods associated with child development.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of the significance of heredity and environment on the developing child.

3. Demonstrate an awareness of the factors associated with physical development, prenatally through to puberty.

4. Demonstrate an awareness of the processes of cognitive development throughout childhood.

5. Demonstrate an awareness of the socio-emotional changes experienced by the infant through to puberty.

6. Discuss how child developmental research can be applied to real life situations.

7. Discuss contemporary issues in child development such as, child abuse, attention-deficit disorder, special needs, role of television

Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

A recently published textbook, such as:

Dworetzky, J.P. Introduction to Child Development, 5^th edition.

New York: West Publishing, 1995.

Santrock, John W. Children 4^th edition. Madison, Wisconsin:

Brown & Benchmark, 1995

Textbooks will be updated periodically.

Requisites

Prerequisites

PSYC 1200

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

September 2004 (Current)