Unit 1 Child development from conception to seven years © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Neurological and brain development Speech, language and communication LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years. AC 2.1: identify stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years in the following areas: Cognition Neurological and brain development Speech, language and communication Physical Personal, social and emotional. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Collect a variety of baby toys. LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Time: 15 mins Collect a variety of baby toys. Discuss how the toys support development. Teacher notes: Learners should be asked to bring in examples of baby toys, for example: Mobiles ‘Feely’ books Toys that light up Musical toys Colourful toys Soft toys. An alternative approach to this activity would be to give learners catalogues of children’s toys and ask them to pick out toys that support different areas of development. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Stages of cognitive development in children from birth to seven years LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Stages of cognitive development in children from birth to seven years Cognitive development is the child learning to interact with the world around them. Part of this process of development involves understanding abstract ideas, for example, the concept of green. How do you know that This… And this… are all green? © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Stages of cognitive development in children from birth to seven years LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Stages of cognitive development in children from birth to seven years Piaget identified four areas of development; the first two cover birth to seven years. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Research Piaget’s theories on cognitive development. LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Time: 15 mins Research Piaget’s theories on cognitive development. Briefly outline his four stages. Explain his first two stages (relevant to 0–7 years) in more detail. What are schemas? Write a brief explanation of Piaget’s five main schemas. Teacher notes: Learners can present their research in the form of a PowerPoint presentation if they wish. This will be useful research for Lessons 3 and 4. Useful resources: Piaget’s developmental theory, key ideas and stages of cognitive development www.learningandteaching.info/learning/piaget.htm Piaget’s stages of cognitive development www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/piaget.shtml PowerPoint presentation on Piaget’s cognitive development www.virtualpsychology.co.uk/powerpoint/PiagetsCognitiveDevelopment.ppt The pre-operational stage of cognitive development http://psychology.about.com/od/piagetstheory/p/preoperational.htm Explanation of what schemas are http://psychology.about.com/od/sindex/g/def_schema.htm Cognitive development in early childhood – discusses Piaget and schemas http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/ss/early-childhood-development_3.htm Website from Birch Farm setting giving information about schemas www.birchfarm.co.uk/schemas.htm Schemas in action at Thanet Early Years Project – article from Nursery World http://thanetearlyyearsproject.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/article-from-nursery-world.html © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Neurological and brain development LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Neurological and brain development Scientists used to think that babies were born with a limited capacity for learning, that they were born with a certain number of brain cells and that there wasn’t the facility for further development. More recent research suggests that a baby is influenced by its environment and that intelligence depends on the connections between nerve cells. These are influenced by the quality of the educational environment. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Neurological and brain development LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Neurological and brain development A longitudinal study (conducted over 20 years) found that there was a correlation between the amount of mental stimulation that a child receives at the age of four and the cortex development (dedicated to language and cognition) in their late teens. The cerebral cortex plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language and consciousness. The research concluded that other factors, such as parental nurturing and cognitive stimulation at the age of eight, had no effect on development later in life (Martha Farah, 2000). Teacher notes: The longitudinal study referred to is Martha Farah (2000) - see the link below. Useful resources: Martha Farah’s research paper www.psych.upenn.edu/~mfarah/Development-EnviroStimParentalNurt.pdf © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Neurological and brain development LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Neurological and brain development Other research suggests that learning changes the physical structure of the brain and that different parts of the brain may be ready to learn at different times (Bransford et al., 1999). Secure attachments for young children have a positive effect on brain development. There is evidence to suggest that high stress levels in young children lead to impaired development of the hippocampus part of the brain. The hippocampus has a central role in memory processes (Glaser, 2000). Useful resources: Article: ‘How people learn: Brain, mind, experience and school’ www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309070368 Abstract of a review of Danya Glaser’s research paper ‘Child Abuse and neglect and the brain’ www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10763678 © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Time: 10 mins The previous slide states: ‘Secure attachments for young children have a positive effect on brain development.’ Reflect on how your setting ensures that children have secure attachments at the following stages of their life: When they first start at the setting When they move to a new room, area in the setting, or school. Do you feel the attachments offered are enough and age and stage appropriate? Teacher notes: Could include: Key person Settling-in process Comforter Moving with friends Familiar faces or objects. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Speech, language and communication development LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Speech, language and communication development Babies communicate their needs from the moment they are born. Initially, their communication is a series of different cries and facial expressions. Babies and young children soon learn to communicate their needs in a variety of ways. All children are individual, so although there is an expected pattern of development, all children will develop at their own rate. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Time: 15 mins As a class you will create a development chart to show the stages of language and communication development from birth to seven years. You will be given one or two of the following age ranges: Birth–3 months 3–6 months 6–12 months 1–3 years 2–5 years 5–7 years. Teacher notes: Groups can plan how they will collate this information. For example, two learners can complete the first age range and two can complete the second, then the information can be collated as a whole class exercise. Useful resources: Development books and charts. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

By 2 years old, children will have reached half their adult height. LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Physical development There is rapid growth in the first two years of a child’s life. This is when their growth will be monitored – health professionals will weigh and measure them. A baby will double its birth weight by 5 months. It will triple its birth weight by its first birthday and have grown 50% in length. By 2 years old, children will have reached half their adult height. At birth, the bones of a baby’s skull are not fused together – this will happen during their first two years. By the time they are 2 years old, their brain will be three-quarters the weight and size of an adult’s. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

You will need a number of pictures of babies between 0–12 months. LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Time: 15 mins Collect pictures of babies and children between the ages of 0–7 years old. You will need a number of pictures of babies between 0–12 months. Share your pictures with a partner and put them in order of age. Note the physical development that has occurred. Teacher notes: Learners could come to this lesson prepared with pictures/photos of babies and children, or be provided with old magazines and catalogues. Useful resources: Useful resource on the physical development of infants, with activities and quizzes www.learningseed.com/_guides/1009_Infants_Physical_Development_Guide.pdf © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Personal, social and emotional development LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Personal, social and emotional development The first seven years of a child’s life are influential on their personal development, as on all other areas of development. This is the period of their life when they are learning and absorbing the most. Personal development is about children beginning to understand themselves – who they are, what they can do, developing a sense of self. Children develop self-confidence and self-awareness, and they move from being egocentric to being able to understand the world from another’s point of view. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Personal, social and emotional development LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Personal, social and emotional development Social development is about the social skills that we need to live alongside other people – it is about the growth of relationships with others. Babies start to develop social skills in their first year when they engage in eye contact and play games such as peek-a-boo. By 2 years old, children will engage in parallel play (playing alongside other children, but not with them). They are beginning to be aware of the world beyond themselves. By the 3 years old, children will start to play cooperatively and social skills such as turn-taking are developing. Between 4 and 7 years, playing with other children becomes more important and children develop stable friendships. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Personal, social and emotional development LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Personal, social and emotional development Babies have a need to develop a strong bond with their primary carer, so the first year is very important for their emotional development. Children need the reassurance of the presence of their carer. Children may need their comforter with them to reassure them. Children can become easily frustrated by the limitations of their physical or language skills, sometimes resulting in temper tantrums. These will lessen as their skills develop. As children get older and develop friendships, these can be a source of emotional upset. Young children will ‘fall out’ with their best friends, see it as the end of the world, and ask the practitioner to intercede, only to be best friends again five minutes later. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Time: 15 mins Read the Group activity case studies in the Unit 3.12 Lesson 1 worksheet provided. Discuss: How would you, as a practitioner, deal with the children involved and reassure all of them? How do these case studies represent emotional development in children? Give examples of any similar experiences you have had at placements and explain how they fit into the emotional stages of development. Teacher notes: Learners should draw on their own experiences to explain how they would reassure the children in the case studies. Useful resources: ‘Emotional development in the early childhood years’ – short article on emotional development http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/emotional-development-early-childhood-years-1756.html © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

The benefits to the child The benefits to the setting LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Time: 10 mins Why is it important for practitioners to know the stages and sequences of development of children in their care? Consider: The benefits to the child The benefits to the setting The benefits to parents/carers. Teacher notes: If practitioners were not aware of stages and sequences of development, then the individual needs of the child may not be met. Knowing this information will benefit the setting, as children can be planned for accordingly. Parent/carers will feel that the setting is supporting their child if they know their individual stage of development. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

LO2 Understand stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years [AC 2.1] Time: 15 mins Choose two different age ranges from below and for each one, write one fact about the expected stage of development for each area discussed: Birth–1 year 1–3 years 3–5 years 5–7 years. Areas of development: Cognition Neurological and brain development Speech, language and communication Physical Personal, social and emotional. Teacher notes: This can be completed as a chart or diagram, and can be shared with the rest of the class to consolidate learning. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Neurological and brain development Speech, language and communication In this lesson we have looked at the stages and sequences of development from birth to seven years in the following areas: Cognition Neurological and brain development Speech, language and communication Physical Personal, social and emotional. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

What is meant by the term ‘cognitive development’? How do newborn babies communicate their needs? At what age have children reached half their adult height? Why do many 2 year olds have temper tantrums? © Hodder & Stoughton Limited