Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the major principles and theories in the field of child development; the various techniques for observing children; both the sequence of child development and the processes that underlie it; the impact of context and culture on child development; the three separate aspects of child development, namely physical, cognitive and psychosocial while acknowledging their total interdependency; the developmental milestones from conception to birth. Students should have developed skills to demonstrate the ability to use different child observation skills and strategies; demonstrate the ability to analyse child behaviour as presented in case studies; delineate ways and means to optimise physical development from conception to birth; delineate methods of optimising infant cognitive development; delineate methods of optimising infant psychosocial development. Students should demonstrate a positive attitude to the study of child development; recognise the importance of the above study for child care workers and early childhood educators; demonstrate an attitude of inquiry as to how children develop; demonstrate confidence in understanding and explaining how children develop in the first stage of their development from conception to birth.
Synopsis This subject is an introduction to the study of child development. It follows the development of the child through infancy. It aims to make the student aware of the process of development and learning in infants as well as the many factors of contemporary Australian life which may influence this development. The subject familiarises the students with the three areas of development - social/emotional, cognitive, and physical - while at the same time stressing the relationship between these areas. Relevant theories and recent research findings in child development will be discussed.
Assessment Test: 50% + Examinations: 50%