The Developing Child
Lesson Titles and Descriptions
Lesson 1 History and Trends
This module lays out the history of child development, from early philosophies, to changing beliefs about human nature, with a look at the nature question. It examines the move away from myths and toward scientific investigation, lays out two methods of study, and ends six overarching principles derived from child development research.Lesson 2 Theories of Development
Overview of theory in action. Theories include:
Cognitive, psychosexual, psychosocial, behaviorist, social learning, and socio-cultural. Explains the concept of the “whole child” and shows how theories tend to focus on only part. Gives examples of how one theory can contradict another. Theorists include: Piaget, Freud, Erickson, Gessell, Skinner, Vygotsky.Lesson 3 Observation
Much of what we know about children is learned through careful observation of child growth and behavior. In this module the viewer is guided through several sequences of naturalistic observation of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Methods more suitable with older children and techniques of recording behavior are described. Mention is also made of the ways in which information from observation is used to plan appropriate experiences for children.Lesson 4 Heredity and the Environment: Blueprints for a Baby
Blueprints for a Baby explores the various aspects of conception, the function of genes and chromosomes, and the process of cell division. In addition, with straightforward graphics and narration, the video explains sex determination, in heredity and environment on a fetus. Finally, Blueprints for a Baby discusses the potentially dangerous effects of genetic and chromosomal abnormalities and the field of genetic counseling.Lesson 5 Prenatal Development: A Life in the Making
Here, the miraculous story of life itself is detailed, as we watch a one-celled zygote grow into a fully functioning human being in just 266 days. The video fully explores the three stages of prenatal development offering insight and structures that nourish and protect the fetus during Making discusses the influences that maternal, paternal, development,Lessons 6 Pregnancy and Birth: Caring and A Life in the Making
Presents a contemporary look at pregnancy and the birth process and how our advances in technology and knowledge affect and influence both. Issues such as medical monitoring, testing and intervention are covered, and how they can reduce the possible complications of pregnancy, labor and delivery. In addition, Caring and Preparing for the Life Within discusses many of the most widely practiced childbirth methods and offers insight on sound prenatal care.Lessons 7 The Newborn: Development and Discovery
Addresses the newborn baby and its developmental needs. We explore appearance and behavior, and the bonding that takes place between parents and child. Additionally, Development and Discovery covers neonatal tests and assessments that determine the state of motor, reflex and sensory systems, and expands into cognitive and social skill development. Other issues, such as breast versus bottling feeding, and the cause, and care, of the high-risk infants are examined.
Lesson 8 Infancy: Landmarks of Development
Major landmarks in locomotion and fine motor skills are realized in the first year. Accomplishments of these physical abilities fall within the general principles of direction and sequence. This timing is inherent in the child’ own timetable, and are also influenced by variables of nutrition, health care, opportunities for practice, and cultural patterns. Age norms are helpful for informational and comparative value, but only provide guidelines, not definitive measures of these landmarks. The small but significant steps in infant motor development are visibly portrayed, From this well-defined picture of early development; the viewer will appreciate the principles that affect physical growth and developmentLesson 9 Infancy: Beginnings in Cognition and Languages
The young infant uses both sensory and perceptive capabilities for early learning, The remarkable advances in perception, cognition and language come alive, The student of infant development will marvel at the astounding and rapid progression of the first year of cognitive development shown in this video.Lesson 10 Infancy: Self and Social World
A significant base for the foundation of self in the social world is laid in the first year, Emotions, drawn primarily from inner, then outer states are quite distinguishable very early, The infant senses itself as an integral part of the mother in the first months. Gradually he/she gains the knowledge of being a separate person and activates this by both choosing to stay by the mother’s side and move away from her to explore. Differing cultural belief systems have an impact on the family and subsequently the infants’ developing emotions and the close synchrony with caregivers. Through the medium of video, one can see important alterations the adult makes to continue the synchronous relationship.Lesson 11 Toddlerhood: Physical and Cognitive Development
The toddler stage of physical development begins with the discovery of walking, This action of walking significantly changes the way the toddler sees and examines the world and manipulates objects. This video shows that the new exploration and experimentation is possible because of mental representation, the ability to mentally use symbols to represent an object, to pretend and to use language meaningfully. A stimulating environment and support from adults are seen to be essential for growth of the toddler in physical skills, intellectual growth and language development.Infancy: Early Relationships
The essential base of trust develops in the early relationship of love and nurturing, holding and stroking, development of trust; mutuality; bonding and attachment; stranger anxiety and separation anxiety; growth failure; including quality caregivers for infants.Lesson 12 Toddlerhood: Emotional Development
The turbulent times of toddlerhood evolves with the emergence of autonomy and budding independence. The acts of eating, toileting and sleeping take on new significance as the child brings these under his/her own control. The video provides guidance in setting limits, responding to temper tantrums, supporting issues of separation, playing with peers and accepting the new baby in the family. With an understanding of this development, guidance becomes easier. Relationship with parents remains central for the toddler. He is dependent on the secure base provided by parents, but relationship.Lesson 13 Early Child Care and Education
Takes the viewer right into the classrooms to explore the various choices in childcare and to recognize characteristics of quality preschool programs. Issues central to the child care profession are examined through the eyes of caring professionals.Lesson 14 The Child in the Family
The compelling video shows the roles of parents and functions of the family through interviews with parents and video profiles. This focus on families provides the information and insight significant to all that seek to understand the child and support the family in child rearing.
Lesson 15 Nutrition
This is a highly relevant instructional video on children’s nutrition. The importance of good nutrition for children’s health, energy and growth are emphasize, including specific nutrients and the use of the Food Pyramid, The nutritional needs for each stage of childhood are presented along with guidelines for feeding children, infants through adolescents.Lesson 16 Preschoolers: Physical and Cognitive Development
The longer leaner body of the preschooler is now equipped to learn fine and gross motor skills. Because of improved motor control coordination, the preschool child can tackle a variety of activities with grater skill and success. As the child enters the stage of pre-operational thought, he thinks more symbolically and puts thoughts into expression that communicate his ideas, This video explains the approach of the in play as he seems to ask, “ What does it do?” and “ What can I do with it?” Motivated in this way, the child acts on materials and experiments using a wide range of materials in ever-evolving creative ways, The connection between this rich exploratory play and learning mathematics basics and language skills is made. The adults in the child’s life facilitate this learning through providing a stimulating environment with a wide array of materials and supporting the child’s learning,Lesson 17 Preschoolers: Social and Emotional Development
The new stage of initiative advances the preschooler into a creative, curious and inquisitive experimenter. These activities are attached with energy and eagerness. Because of this new area of initiative, the preschooler can experience strong emotions and fears including the issue of separation as the child enters preschool. After, adjustment to school peers become important, Here, new social skills are learned; sharing, cooperating and resolving conflicts in a peaceful manner, Parents and teachers facilitate development of social skills by imposing reasonable limits and teaching social skills in the situation.Lesson 18 Play
Play is an essential medium for learning and developing. This module explores the significance of play to all areas of development. In real life sequences, the social categories and content of children’s play are demonstrated. The module closes with a description of the adult in facilitating play.Lesson 19 Language Development
This module examines the development of language from infancy through middle childhood. In the program, the viewer will see and hear children at various stages of development struggle to express themselves. As children acquire the ability to speak, they are also leaning to be literate, to read and write, as is shown in many sequences. The functions of language are explained. The role of the adult in supporting the child’s development of language and literacy is demonstrated throughout the module.Lesson 20 Self Identity & Sex Role Development
The question “ Who am I?” is explained in this module. The development of self-identity begins in infancy. By middle childhood, a sense of self and self-esteem are well established. The importance of adults in this development is amply demonstrated through out the module. Through their own observations, and reinforced by others, children acquire ethnic, racial and gender identities, This process is illustrated in the visuals of children at play interacting with parents and other adults, and in scenes of preschoolers at play exploring gender roles. Middle years children are heard grappling with the issue of gender stereotyping.Lesson 21 Middle Childhood: Physical Growth and Development
This program examines the physical changes that take place between the ages of 6 and 12 years. Development of large and small motor skills, conditions such as obesity, disabilities and stress which disrupt growth and development, the effects of poverty on physical growth and development and the role of school in the physical health of the middle years child.Lesson 22 Middle Childhood: Cognitive and Language Development
Focuses on Piaget’s theory of concrete operational development. Characteristics of the concrete operational child, the theory of information processing’ the strategies which contribute to cognitive advances, the characteristics of the language of the school in cognitive development including the role of parents, the ideal classroom, mainstreaming, bilingual education, and assesement using IQ and achievement tests.
Lesson 23 Middle Childhood: Social and Emotional Development
Explored in this program is the development of the sense of self; growth in social cognition; family relationships during middle childhood. Also examined are changes in family structure in present day society including divorce, single parent families, household in which both parents are employed, need for before and after school child care, the blended family, the formation and function of peer group, social and emotional strengths and problems, and the role of the school in social/emotional development of middle years child.Lesson 24 Adolescence: Physical Growth and Development
This module is concerned with adolescents’ physical changes during puberty and the impact of early or late maturation on the individual’s self-concept. The problems associate with adolescence such as nutritional disorders, teen pregnancy, sexually-transmitted diseases, and drug and alcohol uses are discussed.Lesson 25. Adolescence: Social and Emotional
Development
The search for identity is one of the major tasks of adolescence. Their relationship with their parents, parenting style and values, peer support of growing independence, all influence this identity search and is the focus of this module.Lesson 26 Adolescence: Cognitive and Moral Development
The physical changes of puberty are accompanied by changes in adolescent thinking and moral reasoning. As adolescent thinking becomes more logical and abstract, it is limited by adolescent egocentrism. Adolescent thinking is enhanced or disxouraged by the schooling to which they are exposed. The types of schools that foster adolescent thinking and learning are those which provide a variety of academic experiences and encourage interactions between students and teacher, and students and students, Adolescents are receptive to their culture, to the models they see at home, in school and in mass media. Decisions regarding sexual behavior are influenced by their ability to think and reason their values, and their educational experience.