Child Development Course

Lesson 1 • Historical Perspectives and Pioneers

Traces the evolution of child study from early philosophy to modern science. Contextualises current practices within their intellectual origins.

Lesson 2 • Major Theoretical Frameworks

Surveys psychoanalytic, behavioural, cognitive, and ecological theories. Students compare frameworks to select appropriate lenses for analysing child behaviour.

Lesson 3 • Defining Child Development

Introduces the scope, domains, and goals of child development as a discipline. Grounds students in shared terminology used throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Birth Process and Newborn Assessment

Covers labour stages, delivery methods, and immediate neonatal evaluation tools. Connects birth outcomes to early developmental trajectories.

Lesson 2 • Conception and Genetic Foundations

Explains fertilisation, chromosomal inheritance, and gene-environment interaction. Links genetic blueprints to observable developmental outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Teratogens and Prenatal Risk

Identifies substances, infections, and environmental agents that disrupt fetal development. Students apply risk-period knowledge to prevention and early intervention planning.

Lesson 1 • Puberty and Adolescent Physical Changes

Describes hormonal triggers, growth spurts, and secondary sex characteristics of puberty. Addresses psychosocial effects of physical maturation on adolescent identity.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Physical Growth

Presents cephalocaudal, proximodistal, and orthogenetic principles governing body growth. Provides the structural logic students use to predict developmental sequences.

Lesson 3 • Brain Development Across Childhood

Examines neuronal proliferation, synaptic pruning, and myelination across developmental stages. Links brain maturation to emerging cognitive and behavioural capacities.

Lesson 4 • Fine Motor Skill Development

Covers hand-eye coordination, grasping, and tool use from infancy through school age. Connects fine motor competence to academic readiness and self-care skills.

Lesson 1 • Language Development and Acquisition

Traces phonological, semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic development from infancy through adolescence. Links language milestones to literacy and social communication competence.

Lesson 2 • Information-Processing Approaches

Examines attention, memory encoding, and executive function development. Connects processing capacity growth to academic performance improvements.

Lesson 3 • Vygotsky and Sociocultural Theory

Introduces the zone of proximal development, scaffolding, and private speech. Students apply sociocultural principles to collaborative and guided learning contexts.

Lesson 4 • Intelligence and Its Measurement

Compares psychometric, multiple intelligences, and triarchic theories of intelligence. Addresses appropriate and ethical use of cognitive assessments with children.

Lesson 1 • Identity Formation in Adolescence

Applies Erikson's identity vs. role confusion stage and Marcia's identity statuses. Students support adolescents navigating identity exploration across multiple domains.

Lesson 2 • Emotional Development and Regulation

Traces the emergence of basic and complex emotions and regulation strategies across age. Students apply co-regulation techniques appropriate to each developmental period.

Lesson 3 • Peer Relationships and Social Competence

Analyses friendship formation, peer acceptance, and social problem-solving across childhood. Connects peer relationship quality to academic motivation and mental health.

Lesson 4 • Attachment Theory and Early Bonds

Covers Bowlby's attachment system and Ainsworth's Strange Situation classifications. Students connect attachment quality to long-term social and emotional outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Family Structure and Dynamics

Examines two-parent, single-parent, blended, and extended family configurations. Students assess how family transitions affect children's adjustment and resilience.

Lesson 2 • Parenting Styles and Practices

Compares authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved parenting and their outcomes. Students evaluate parenting practices within cultural and contextual frameworks.

Lesson 3 • Socioeconomic Status and Poverty

Identifies mechanisms through which poverty affects cognitive, social, and health outcomes. Students apply evidence-based strategies to mitigate socioeconomic risk.

Lesson 4 • Media, Technology, and Development

Evaluates screen time, digital media, and social media effects across developmental stages. Students apply evidence-based guidelines to advise families on healthy media use.

Lesson 1 • Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Covers autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and intellectual disability with diagnostic criteria. Students distinguish presentations to support accurate referral and intervention planning.

Lesson 2 • Trauma, Adversity, and Resilience

Analyses adverse childhood experiences and their neurobiological and behavioural effects. Students apply trauma-informed principles to create safe, supportive environments.

Lesson 3 • Learning Disabilities and Giftedness

Examines dyslexia, dyscalculia, and twice-exceptional profiles alongside giftedness. Students design differentiated support for children at both ends of the ability spectrum.

Lesson 4 • Understanding Atypical Development

Defines atypical development, developmental delay, and disorder using a continuum model. Establishes the conceptual foundation for evaluating children with special needs.

Lesson 1 • Developmental Screening and Assessment

Covers standardised screening tools, observational assessment, and portfolio methods. Students select appropriate instruments matched to child age and referral concern.

Lesson 2 • Family Engagement and Partnership

Builds skills for establishing trust, sharing information, and co-planning with families. Students practise communication strategies that honour diverse family perspectives.

Lesson 3 • Designing Developmentally Appropriate Programmes

Applies developmental principles to curriculum, environment, and routine design. Students evaluate programme quality using established frameworks and rating scales.

Lesson 4 • Reflective Practice and Professional Growth

Introduces reflective practice cycles, supervision, and continuing professional development. Students build a personal professional development plan grounded in self-assessment.