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Understanding
"Child Development"
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Child
development is the sequence of physical, cognitive, social, and
emotional changes that children go through as they grow. These
changes take place over time and are influenced by a child's unique
biological makeup combined with the cultural, social and physical
factors in his or her particular culture, family, and environment.
It
is easy to see the changes children go through from birth to early
childhood. Children grow physically while they are learning how
to react to the world that surrounds them and the people in it.
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To
learn more about your child's Social
and Emotional Milestones,
click
here
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Why
is it important to understand your child's stages of development?
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- Being
a ware of your child's stages of development can make a caregiver
less likely to become frustrated or upset about children's behavior
because they will only expect a child to do what they are capable
of doing at that stage
- Understanding
child development can help prevent physical or emotional abuse
that might occur when adults become angry or frustrated with a
child's challenging behavior.
- Being
aware of your child's developmental stage may create a stronger
adult/child bond that can help promote greater family harmony.
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What
are some basic principles about understanding child development?
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- The
early years of a child are important because this is the time
when the brain matures rapidly, creating the foundation for learning
and thinking.
- The
early years is when a child develops a sense of being an individual,
separate from their parents, and they develop the ability to think,
feel, trust, and relate to others.
- Young
children learn by example and the adults in their lives are the
most influential teachers.
- Young
children that have their basic needs met are more likely to develop
resilience.
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What
are the basic needs of young children?
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- Develop a strong warm emotional relationship with the primary
caregivers.
- Feel safe, loved, and secure - physically and emotionally.
- Develop a sense of trust, believing that their physical needs
will be satisfied with consistent and loving care.
- Receive positive attention from adults through play and everyday
activities that build mutual respect and a sense of being connected
with them.
- Have family members display, by example, how to constructively
solve problems, deal with disagreements, and handle anger and
stress.
- Develop the confidence to deal with things that happen to them
by learning to solve simple problems.
- Learn to appreciate similarities and differences among people.
- Be protected from exposure to violence. Young children are deeply
affected by the violence they see in real life and on television.
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