AZA1286 - Child and youth development: A five-level developmental model - 2017

The purpose of the Child and Youth Care Profession is to promote and facilitate the optimum development of children and adolescents with both normal and special developmental needs, ensuring that they are able to be effective within all the contexts in which they function. Activities the redress developmental delays are given. A five-level developmental model is presented and cultural socialisation and peer group dynamics as developmental influences are explored. The inter-dependence of different childcare occupations is also studied.

The objectives lie within five inter-related bands. These concern:

1. factual information
2. sources and resources
3. conceptual definitions
4. academic debates
5. analytic communication skills.

   Upon successful completion of this unit, learners will be able to demonstrate knowledge of and familiarity with the following types of information, academic perspectives and skills:

   1. A good understanding of the five developmental levels on which to assess developmental progress or delay
   2. Apply knowledge of activities and exercises to redress developmental delay and optimise healthy development
   3. Understand the necessity and nature of play
   4. Demonstrate an understanding of the process of socialisation and peer group influence
   5. Evaluate basic signs for school readiness and identify early signs of learning problems

Within semester assessment: 70% + Exam: 30%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Associate Professor Rika Swanzen

Child and youth development - South Africa

ATS1286