Module 05 – Child Development

The Basics

Instincts, experience and a nurturing nature will guide you in caring for children, but high quality child care also depends on your knowledge of how children grow and develop. We continue to learn and develop throughout our lifetimes, but it is in infancy and childhood that we experience the most rapid rate of development.The children, and many of their families, too, will rely on observation skills and trust your judgement about their children. The more knowledgeable you are about children’s growth and development, the greater awareness and understanding you will have  of what your role should be in assisting children to reach their full potential.

Learning Objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Recognize stages of development
• Support each child’s pace of development
• Apply appropriate steps to take when concerns arise about a child’s development
• Implement activities that support development of children at different ages and stages of development