Child Development Theorists: Although researches don’t always agree, scientific researchers have agreed upon the five following general rules. Development is similar for each individual Development builds upon earlier learning. Development proceeds at an individual rate. The different areas of development are interrelated. Development is a lifelong process.

How may childhood impact a lifetime? Read each scenario of a real life person and predict how their life turned out…

Divide into groups of 4 Consider environment, heredity, research and Predict how the person in the scenario would be as an adult. record conclusions for each of 5 scenarios to be discussed with the entire class. You will have approximately 2-4 minutes for each scenario.

Scenario #1 Vincent is the eighth child in a family of ten children. His biological father fathered him and two of the girls in his family. The rest of the children have been fathered by various other men. His mother is raising all then children on her own. The family lives on the “other side of town” or in the ghettos. They have a three room house with no indoor plumbing and only two beds. Most of the children sleep on the floor. Vincent is known to be a bully who throws rocks at cars, and at children’s heads. He also beat up his girl cousin with a baseball bat. He has aimed loaded guns at people. His mother beats and whips him regularly, trying to get him to stop his negative behavior.

Scenario #2 Tonya is an only child. Her parents got a divorce when she was very young. Her mother, who Tonya lives with, has to work outside of the home to support the family. Her mother often beats her and emotionally abuse her. Her mother often tells Tonya that she is not good.

Scenario #3 Jeff lives in a traditional family with a younger brother and his parents. His family is very religious. His parents are very supportive and loving. They strive to provide a nurturing atmosphere in their home. Occasionally Jeff’s parents argue. For the most part, Jeff’s family fits the profile of a typical, traditional family.

Scenario #4 Kathleen, had run away from home at the age of 15 and gave birth to Charlie at age 16. She spent the next few decades drinking too much, with periods of time spent in jail. Because she was so young and unprepared for the responsibilities of raising a child, Charlie spent most of his early childhood in foster homes with many different substitute parents. Charlie is now 12 years old and his mother has given him to social services to find a home for him.

Scenario #5 Nancy and Peter married in June 1981 in Kingston, N.H. They had 2 sons. Peter was an executive. They divorced in 2009. In working through the terms of their divorce, the couple spent considerable time talking about how to provide for their youngest son’s well-being. Nancy received $289,800 in alimony in 2012 and didn’t have to work. She never wanted to leave her youngest son unattended. As part of the divorce, both Nancy and Peter were ordered to attend a parenting education program, standard practice in their state, both completed the required sessions.

#1“Vincent” Bo Jackson A retired American athlete and a former multisport professional.  He was a running back for the Los Angeles Raiders Played left field and designated hitter for the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox, and the California Angels A hip injury forced him to retire.  He was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major sports.

BO JACKSON http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-_vd613L5U

#2 Tonya Harding An American figure skating champion. She was the second woman and the first American woman to complete a triple axel jump in competition.  Her career came to a halt when she assaulted another skater, Nancy Kerrigan in the Olympics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buQXBXmjumU http://www.tonyaharding.com/biography.htm

#3 Jeffrey Dahmer An American serial killer and sex offender. Between 1978 and 1991 he murdered 17 men and boys.  The murders were quite gruesome involving rape, torture, dismemberment, and cannibalism.  In 1994 he was beaten to death in prison.

#4 Charles Manson An American criminal who headed a group called the Manson Family in the 1960’s.  He was convicted of conspiracy because members of his family committed the Tate/LaBianca murders through his instructions.  At the time, he was an ex-convict who spent half of his life in prisons for a variety of offenses.  Because California eliminated the state’s death penalty, Manson was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1972.  He still remains in prison and frequently communicates with the outside world through a website he monitors. 

#4 http://history1900s.about.com/od/1960s/p/charlesmanson.htm http://history1900s.about.com/od/1960s/p/charlesmanson.htm

#5 Adam Lanza- Newtown, CT