PSYC 2210 - Child Growth & Development

Credit Hours: 3.00

Objectives:

1. Describe the major theories of prenatal and physical development.
2. Describe the major theories of cognitive development as it relates to children.
3. Describe language development from both the nativist and learning perspective.
4. Describe social development as it relates to temperament, attachment, gender, and morality.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to apply research findings to child growth and development.

Objectives:

1. Explain the method of research used to study child development.
2. Identify strengths and weaknesses in research studies that pertain to child growth and development.

Outcome 3: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills as it relates to matters of child development.

Objectives:

1. Describe the concept of teratogens and explain how it could affect the developing fetus.
2. Describe the concept of attachment and explain how it plays a role in development.
3. Describe the importance of environment and explain how schools, media, and culture can influence child development.
4. Describe the different parenting styles and explain the role it plays in development.

Outcome 4: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of contemporary issues in society and their impact upon children.

Objectives:

1. Describe the different types of child abuse and explain how it affects all aspects of child growth and development.
2. Explain the importance of standardized intelligence testing as it relates to children with special educational needs.
3. Understand the psychological disorders that effect children as per the DSM 5 such as Intellectual Disability, ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
4. Explain the effects of acceptance, neglect, and rejection by peers and how that may affect the course of child development.

1. Introduction to Child Growth and Development
   1. Theories About Development
      1. Psychoanalytic Theory
      2. Behavioral and Social Learning Theories
      3. Cognitive Theories
      4. Biological Theories
      5. Systems Theories
   2. Research Methods Used in Child Growth and Development
      1. Descriptive Research Methods
      2. Correlational Method
      3. Experiemental Method
      4. Other Methods for Assessing Development
      5. Ethics in Research With Children
2. Genes and Heredity
   1. Genes, Chromosomes, and DNA
   2. Inheritance and Genetic Abnormalities
      1. Dominant-Recessive Traits
      2. Chromosomal Abnormalities
      3. Prenatal Screening and Genetic Testing
   3. Interaction of Genes and Environment
      1. Canalization
      2. Niche-Picking
   4. Heritability
3. Prenatal Development and Birth
   1. Conception and Stages of Prenatal Development
   2. Teratogens
   3. Birth
   4. The Neonate
      1. Prematurity
      2. Low Birth Weight
      3. Infant Mortality
4. Physical Development
   1. Reflexes
   2. Development of the Brain and Nervous System
      1. Neurons
      2. Brain/Neural Plasticity
   3. Physical Growth
      1. Cephalocaudal Trend
      2. Proximodistal Trend
      3. Sexual Maturation
   4. Perceptual Development
      1. Visual Preferences
      2. Habituation-Dishabituation Research
      3. Other Perceptual Development
5. Cognitive Development
   1. Jean Piaget
   2. Lev Vygotsky
   3. Information Processing Theory
6. Intelligence and Academic Skills
   1. History of Intelligence
   2. Psychometric Approaches
      1. Stanford Binet
      2. Wechsler Series
   3. Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory
   4. Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory
   5. Creativity
   6. Development of Academic Skills
      1. Numbers and Mathematics
      2. Reading
      3. Writing
7. Language Development
   1. Elements of Language
   2. Theories of Language Development
   3. Emergence of Language
      1. Infancy
      2. Early Childhood
      3. Middle Childhood and Adolescence
8. Social Development
   1. Attachment
   2. Temperament
   3. Emotions
9. Development of Self, Gender, and Morality
   1. Theories of Self
   2. Development of Gender
   3. Moral Development
10. Peers, Play, Popularity
    1. Peer Relationships and Friendships
    2. Popular Children
    3. Rejected Children
    4. Neglected Children
11. Families
    1. Parenting
    2. Discipline
    3. Changing Family Structures
    4. Child Care Issues
12. Influences Outside the Family
    1. Schools
    2. Media
    3. Culture
13. Children With Special Needs
    1. Emotional and Behavioral Problems
    2. Developmental and Learning Problems
    3. Child Maltreatment: Abuse and Neglect
    4. Children Who Thrive: Gifted, Talented, and Resilient