This course introduces the methods, theories and main concepts used by psychologists to develop a real insight into the world of children.
Child psychology is extremely important for a number of reasons, not the least of which is being able to understand and accurately predict a reasonable norm for child development. Proper discipline, teaching styles and communication styles are all based on understanding the psychology of childhood, which changes and develops over time. Intervention on behalf of children who have been raised in difficult circumstances or faced traumatic events also hinges on understanding child psychology -- children don't cope with situations in the same way adults do because they do not process information the same way and do not have the same emotional or reasoning skills.
By studying child psychology, we can better understand children and equip them to become well-adjusted, more adaptable adults who are capable of living rich and varied lives. We can help our children through crises and enrich their daily lives by interacting with them in ways that are appropriate to their developmental levels. Is it any wonder that so many people choose to study child developmental psychology every year?
This course is for all those who want to find out what psychology can tell us about the nature and development of children. This study is intended for students of psychology , those training to work with children in a variety of professional roles, or anyone just interested in understanding how children develop.
Students will learn:
Ø Definition of Child Psychology
Ø The concept of Childhood
o Early history and childhood
o The class difference in perceptions of childhood
o The lengthening of childhood from the industrial age to present day
o The beginnings of child psychology
Ø Biological Factors in Child Psychology
o Prenatal Development, including an outline of prenatal milestones
o Nature vs. Nurture I: How the mother’s lifestyle/environment affects the unborn
Ø Schools of Child Psychology
o Cognitive (Piaget)
o Socio-Cognitive (Vygotsky)
o Socio-Emotional (Erikson)
Ø Piaget’s
o Sensory Motor Period
o Preoperational Period
o Concrete Operations
o Formal Operations
Ø Vygotsky’s Theory In-Depth
o Cultural mediation
o Pyschology of play
o Internalization
o Metacognition
Ø Erikson’s Eight Stages of Development
o Hope
o Will
o Purpose
o Competence
o Fidelity
o Love
o Care
o Wisdom
Ø Development of Language
o Responsive communication
o Verbal communication
Ø Nature vs. Nurture
o Genetics and child psychology
o Social atmosphere and child psychology
o Twin studies
Ø Situational Child Psychology
o Family dynamics
o Peer relationships
o Sibling relationships and birth order
o Effects of divorce
Ø Applied Child Psychology
o Encouraging cognitive development
o Developing self-esteem
o Understanding red flags
Ø Psychological Testing and Children
o When and why they are used
o What types of tests are available?
o What they mean (and what they don’t mean)
Lesson 1: The Concept of Childhood
Lesson 2: Early Biological factors in Child Psychology
Lesson 3: Major Schools of Child Psychology
Lesson 4: Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development
Lesson 5: Vygotsky's Theory of Sociocognitive Development
Lesson 6: Erikson's Eight Stages of Development
Lesson 7: Development of Language
Lesson 8: Nature vs. Nurture
Lesson 9: Family Dynamics and Child Psychology
Lesson 10: Applied Child Psychology
Lesson 11: Psychological Testing and Children
