Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 102666

Coordinator Kerry Staples Opens in new window

Description A child’s development and learning is influenced by the people around them and the world they live in. To support children’s learning and development, teachers require knowledge and understanding of the complex interactions between nature and nurture. This subject will provide pre-service teachers with an opportunity to investigate children’s physical, socio-emotional, cognitive, language, moral, creative, spiritual and academic domains of development. Concepts covered include the holistic child, contemporary theories of development, early brain development research and the pedagogy of relationships. Students will use these concepts to plan for developmentally and culturally appropriate learning environments in early childhood settings. Exploring the complexity of children’s development from conception to five years of age will enhance understandings of how best to analyse and support their development.

School Education

Discipline Teacher Education: Early Childhood

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 1 10cp

Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 1 subject

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Education (Birth – 5 Years).

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyse contemporary theories of child development and apply these understandings to practice.
2. Explain children’s development from conception to five years of age across physical, socio-emotional, cognitive, language, sensory, moral, creative, spiritual and academic domains.
3. Discuss the relative impact on children’s development of nature (biological and genetic factors) and nurture (environmental factors).
4. Analyse children’s development and learning within socio-cultural contexts and determine the implications for planning for children’s learning.
5. Analyse the importance of building positive, professional relationships with young children and families and determine the implications for promoting responsive quality care and education. 
6. Use a variety of observational techniques to document, analyse and interpret children’s development using relevant theory and research.
7. Critique developmentally and culturally appropriate practices and principles and their implications for care and education that is responsive to the needs of diverse children and their families.

Subject Content

Module 1: The ecology of childhood and child development 
The child in the context of family, society, and community
Diversity in family structures and values and socialisation practices.  
Module 2: Children’s growth and development: theoretical perspectives
Theories of child development 
Children’s development from pre-natal to the early school years across physical, socio-emotional, cognitive, language, sensory, moral, creative, spiritual and academic domains.  
Module 3: Brain development research and its implications for practice
Research on early brain development 
The impact of biological and genetic factors
Creating environments which respond to critical and sensitive periods of development
Module 4: Relationships as foundational for children’s developments 
Positive interactions and communication with children and families
Continuity of care and education
The pedagogy of relationships
Module 5: Application of knowledge of child development into practice
Observe, assess, and guide children’s development and learning utilising theories of child development    
Critique and apply the principles of developmentally and culturally appropriate practices in designing quality care and learning in early childhood

Special Requirements

Legislative pre-requisites

Prior to enrolling in this subject, students must have satisfactorily completed online Child Protection Awareness Training, have a current Working with Children Check, and completed the online course ASCIA Anaphylaxis: Australasian childcare.