Child Development Unit

The Play Years

1. Use Contents and Connection slide to

locate different Child Development

topics.

2. Use the arrows and home buttons to

navigate.

3. Feel free to look around on the links and

discover more information about young

children .

Instructions

*Complete the hand-out as you

move through the presentation.

*Be prepared to share a new idea or

concept with the class.

Instructions

Introduction

Physical Development

Intellectual Development

Social – Emotional Development

Early Childhood Development

References

Contents and Connections

The Play Years

The years from age 2 – 6

Also called early childhood or the preschool period

During this time in children’s life:

PLAY IS THE WORK OF CHILDREN

Body Changes

During the play years,

children become

slimmer and the lower

body lengthens and

baby fat turns to

muscle.

Yes…these are my grandchildren!Wondering if a child a healthy weight? Try this linkChild Weight Chart

Eating Habits

Children’s reduced appetite reflects their need for fewer calories

Parents get worried and encourage their children to ”Eat all your dinner and then you can have ice cream”.

Need for familiar routine or a demand for things to be “just right”

Click here for tips on picky eaters

Language is the leading cognitive accomplishment during the play years.

24 months: short sentences and limited vocabulary

6 year old: ability to understand and discuss almost anything

Language Development

Click here to learn more about child language development

Overregularization: the preschooler’s tendency to overuse roles of grammar, which is itself a sign of verbal sophistication.

Examples: Falled down, Hurted myselfFoots, Tooths, Mouses, Broked it

Grammar

Early Childhood Education

Parents are the first teachers.

All young children benefit from high-quality, regularly scheduled educational experiences.

Click here to learn more about Parents as Teachers

Child-Centered Programs The physical

space and materials are organized in such a way that they lend themselves to self-paced exploration

Readiness programs that stress preparation for school, teaching children letters, numbers, shapes and colors

Sit quietly, listen to the teacher and work in groups

Structured, reinforcements Behaviorism inspired

Teacher-Directed Programs

Head Start – the most widespread early-childhood-education program in the United StatesFederally funded program that began in 1965 for low-income or minority childrenImproved self-esteem and social skills for both the children and their parent

Intervention Programs

To learn more about Head Start Past, Present and Future click here

• Safety• Low adult/child ratio• Positive social interactions among children and adults• Well-trained staff• Curriculum geared toward cognitive

development rather than behavioral control• Space that facilitates creative and

constructive play• Continuity

Quality Matters

Emotional Development

Emotional Regulation is the ability to control the expression of emotions, so sadness, fear, anger for example

Intrinsic Motivation – a child enjoys accomplishing something for the joy of doing it

Extrinsic Motivation – a child does something to earn praise, avoid punishment or to be rewarded

Emotional Development

Sociodramatic Play

Children create their own imaginative story and act out various roles and themes

Girls are more likely than boys to engage in sociodramatic play

Play is the Social - Emotional Development work of Children

Play provides practice

in *Emotional

regulation

*Empathy

*Social understanding

Berger, K . (2008). The Developing Person Through Childhood and Adolescence. New York: Worth

Child Development Standards A5.0 Students understand important elements of a child’s

physical, intellectual, emotional, and social growth and development:

A5.2 Know the developmental stages of infants, toddlers, and children.

A5.4 Relate the importance of learning environments, experiences, and interactions and their connections to each stage of physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development.

References

The Link to CTE Standards is a PDF file … Go to page 98. Thank you!