"Child development involves the biological, psychological and emotional changes that occur in human beings between birth and the conclusion of adolescence."
The study of the physical, cognitive, and social development of children.
General child development: An overview of the various stages of physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development from birth through adolescence.
Attachment theory: The importance of developing secure relationships with caregivers and how this impacts later relationships and emotional regulation.
Piaget’s cognitive development theory: Four stages of cognitive development, from infancy to adolescence, and how children learn to understand their world.
Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory: The role culture, language, and social interaction play in cognitive development.
Information processing theory: How children take in, process, and use information from their environment.
Behaviorism: The theory that suggests observable behaviors are the only valid indicators of learning.
Constructivist theory: The idea that children actively construct their own understanding and knowledge through exploration, experimentation, and problem-solving.
Multiple intelligence theory: The concept that individuals have different strengths and types of intelligence beyond verbal and logical-mathematical abilities.
Self-determination theory: How motivation, autonomy, competence, and relatedness influence children’s behavior and learning.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: The idea that basic physiological and safety needs must be met before higher-level needs, such as self-esteem and self-actualization, can be pursued.
Erikson’s psychosocial theory: Eight stages of psychosocial development that correspond to different age ranges and how individuals overcome developmental challenges.
Kohlberg’s theory of moral development: The notion that individuals progress through distinct stages of moral reasoning, with increasing complexity and principled thinking.
Gilligan’s theory of moral development in girls: A critique of Kohlberg’s theory, suggesting that girls prioritize caring relationships over rules and justice when making moral decisions.
Nature vs. nurture debate: The ongoing debate about the relative contributions of genetics and environment on child development.
Critical periods: The notion that certain times during development are particularly sensitive to environmental influences and can have lasting effects.
Language development: The process of how children learn to communicate and use language over time.
Play and its role in development: The importance of play for social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development.
Parenting styles and their impact on child development: How different parenting styles (e.g., authoritative, authoritarian, permissive) can influence children’s behavior and development.
School readiness: The skills children need to have in order to successfully transition to formal schooling.
Developmental disabilities: An overview of common developmental disabilities and how they impact children’s development.
Montessori Method: This method emphasizes the child's independence and self-directed learning. Montessori classrooms feature child-sized furniture and materials specially designed to appeal to the child's natural curiosity.
Reggio Emilia Approach: The Reggio Emilia Approach is based on the belief that children learn best through exploration and play. The approach involves a child-centered curriculum where the teacher acts as a facilitator, and the children guide their learning experiences.
Waldorf Education: This approach is based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, who believed that children learn best when they are engaged in creative, imaginative play. Waldorf classrooms are designed to create a calm, nurturing environment where children can explore and learn at their own pace.
High Scope Approach: This approach is based on the idea that children learn best when they are actively engaged in hands-on learning experiences. High Scope classrooms feature a curriculum that is divided into content areas, including math, science, and language arts.
Bank Street Approach: This approach is grounded in the belief that children learn best when they are active participants in their own learning. Bank Street classrooms feature a child-centered curriculum, and teachers act as facilitators who support the children's learning experiences.
Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development: This theory is based on the idea that children's cognitive development happens in stages, with each stage building upon the previous one. Piaget's theory emphasizes the importance of exploration, play, and hands-on learning in promoting cognitive development.
Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory: This theory stresses the importance of social interaction in promoting cognitive development. Vygotsky believed that children learn best when they are engaged in social interactions with more knowledgeable others, such as teachers, parents, or peers.
"Childhood is divided into three stages of life which include early childhood, middle childhood, and late childhood (preadolescence)."
"Many of life's milestones happen during this time period such as first words, learning to crawl, and learning to walk."
"Adolescence is the stage of life that typically starts around the major onset of puberty, with markers such as menarche and spermarche, typically occurring at 12–13 years of age."
"It has been defined as ages 10 to 19 by the World Health Organization."
"In the course of development, the individual human progresses from dependency to increasing autonomy."
"Developmental change may occur as a result of genetically controlled processes, known as maturation, or environmental factors and learning."
"As genetic factors and events during prenatal life may strongly influence developmental changes, genetics and prenatal development usually form a part of the study of child development."
"Some age-related development periods with defined intervals include: newborn (ages 0–3 months); infant (ages 3 months - 1 year); toddler (ages 1–3 years); preschooler (ages 3 - 6 years); school-aged child (ages 6–12 years); teens (ages 13–19 years)."
"Parents play a large role in a child's activities, socialization, and development; having multiple parents can add stability to a child's life and therefore encourage healthy development."
"Child-care programs may be beneficial for childhood development such as learning capabilities and social skills."
"The optimal development of children is considered vital to society."
"It is important to understand the social, cognitive, emotional, and educational development of children."
"Increased research and interest in this field has resulted in new theories and strategies, especially with regard to practices that promote development within the school systems."
"Some theories seek to describe a sequence of states that compose child development."