Module 1: Basic Concepts

Lesson 1

“ By virtueof being borntohumanity,

every humanbeinghasa right
tothedevelopment and fulfillment of
hispotentialitiesasa human being.”

INTENDED LEARNING
OUTCOMES
At the end of this module, the pre-service teacher (PST) can:
a. Explain the basic concepts related to child and adolescent
development and
b. Explain how current research and theories on child and adolescent
development contribute to teaching and learning within and across
different areas.

LESSON CONTENT:
A. Definitions of child and adolescent learners
1. Definitions from UNESCO, UNICEF and WHO
B. Growth and Development: Nature or Nurture
C. Periods of development
D. Developmental Tasks and Education (Havighurst)
E. Domains of human Development
1. Biological
2. Cognitive
3. Socio-emotional

INTRODUCTION
Children and adolescents are not short adults - they are qualitatively different. They have physical,
psychological and social needs that must be met to enable healthy growth and development. The
extent to which parents, the family, the community and society are able to meet these
developmental needs (or not) has long-term consequences for the kinds of adults they will become.
Armed conflict, displacement, disruption of normal life, and separation from family and/or
community can have powerful, long-lasting effects that need to be compensated for in protection and
assistance interventions. The fact that almost half of the people of concern to UNHCR are children
and adolescents, gives quantitative significance to these operational issues.
 A. ABSTRACTION

Child Development
 Refers to the biological and psychological and emotional changes that occur in human
beings between birth and the end of adolescence then through adulthood, as the
individual progresses from dependency to increasing autonomy.
 Biologically, a child (plural children) is a human being between the stages of birth
and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal
definition of child generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a ... Data from
UNICEF indicate that in 2011, 57 million children were out of school.
 The state or time of being a child; especially, the period from infancy to puberty.
 The time for children to be in school and at play, to grow strong and confident with
the love and encouragement of their family and an extended community of caring
adults. It is a precious time in which children should live free from fear, safe from
violence and protected from abuse and exploitation. (www.unicef.org)
Adolescent Development
 The World Health Organization (WHO) defines adolescents as those people between
10 and 19 years of age. The great majority of adolescents are, therefore, included in the
age-based definition of “child”, adopted by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 4
as a person under the age of 18 years
 Adolescence education - UNESCO Digital Libraryunesdoc.unesco.org › Adolescents
struggle to define themselves and what they want to accomplish. They are answering the
questions: “W h o a m I? What can I be?"
 The period following the onset of puberty during which a young person develops from a
child into an adult. (ages 13–19 years old) 
 Etymological meaning from the Latin word: adolescere which means “to
grow up”.  a transitional age of physical and psychological human development
generally occurring during the period from puberty to legal adulthood (age of majority).
 The period of adolescence is most closely associated with the teenage years, though its
physical, psychological and cultural expressions can begin earlier and end late
GROWTH (quantitative)
 Refers to physical increase in the size of the body. (Increase in weight, height, etc..)
 Refers to a quantitative change (can be measured) there is a change in form and increase
in the complexity of body parts and their functioning, thinking abilities and social skills.
 Growth is only one aspect of the larger process of development.
DEVELOPMENT (qualitative)
 Changes in a person’s physical and behavioral traits that emerge in
orderly ways and last for a reasonable period of time.
 Changes are…PROGRESSIVE (results in Acquisition of skills and abilities
that are complex, finer and more efficient.) IN ORDER (there is an order in development.)
LONG LASTING

NATURE
 is what we think of as pre-wiring and is influenced by genetic inheritance and other
biological factors.
 Although their influences are so often distinguished in ancient philosophy and modern science,
the inseparability of nature and nurture has profound implications for how we study and
understand human development. Nature and nurture are partners in how developing people interact
with the surrounding environment
Two approaches to human development
If you believe that Lyka and Althea will show extensive change from birth to adolescence, little or no
change in adulthood and decline in late old age, your approach to development is Traditional. In
contrast, if you believe that even in adulthood developmental change takes place as it does during
childhood, your approach is termed life-span approach.
Characteristic of Life-span development (Santrock, 2002)
1. Development is LIFELONG. It does not end in adulthood. No
developmental stage dominates development.
2. Development is PLASTIC. Development is possible throughout the lifespan.
3. Development is MULTIDIMENSIONAL. Development consists of
biological, cognitive and socio-emotional dimensions.
4. Development is CONTEXTUAL. Individuals are changing beings in a changing
world.
5. Development involves GROWTH, MAINTENANCE and REGULATION. Growth,
maintenance and regulation are the 3 goals of human development. The goals of individuals vary
among developmental stages.
Robert Havighurst emphasized that learning is basic and that it continues throughout life span. Growth and
Development occurs in six stages.
1. Infancy and early childhood (birth till 6 years old) -in this stage, the child begins to
learn different physical activities like walking, crawling as well as starting to read and forming
concepts.
2. Middle childhood (6-12 years old) -middle childhood is then where the child learns
different physical skills for simple games; as well as developing concepts for everyday living.
3. Adolescence (13-18 years old) -during the adolescence period, the child achieves
more mature relations with others. The child gets to know oneself and prepares himself for the
coming years.
4. Early adulthood (18-30 years old) -here one is now ready to settle down and begin a
family as well as a new life. One looks for a career to help in raising himself and his family,
practicing as well socially.
5. Middle age (30-60 years old) - middle age, is where one is able to see clearly to his
future, here one is then able to help his children as well as other teenagers to become more
responsible. Here one also is able to adapt to everything that is happening to him physically,
emotionally even socially.
6. Later maturity (60 years old and over) - in this stage, one is adjusting to the
happenings of one’s life. Here, one needs to adjust to understand everything especially in death.
Domains in Human Development
1. Physical. The physical domain covers the development of physical changes, which
includes growing in size and strength, as well as the development of both gross motor
skills and fine motor ...
2. Cognitive. The cognitive domain includes intellectual development and creativity. 1
Kids gain the ability to process thoughts, pay attention, develop memories, understand
their surroundings, express creativity, as well as ...
3. Social-Emotional. The social-emotional domain includes a child's growing
understanding and control of their emotions. ...
Periods of Development
Think about the lifespan and make a list of what you would consider the basic periods of
development. How many periods or stages are on your list? Perhaps you have three: childhood,
adulthood, and old age. Or maybe four: infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Development
lists often break the lifespan into eight stages:
1. Prenatal Development- An embryo at 8 weeks of development.
2. Infancy and Toddlerhood- Major Development happens during the first two
years of life, as evidenced by this newborn baby and his toddler brother.
 3. Early Childhood-Early childhood, or the preschool years, around ages 2-6, is
filled with incredible amounts of growth and change.
4. Middle Childhood-Middle childhood spans most of what is traditionally primary
school, or the ages between 6-11
5. Adolescence-Adolescence or the age roughly between 12-18, is marked by
puberty and sexual maturation, accompanied by major socioemotional changes.
6. Early Adulthood-Early adulthood, roughly ages 20-40, may be split into yet
another category of “emerging adulthood,” as there are often profound differences
between younger adults and those in their late 30s
7. Middle Adulthood-Middle adulthood spans the years between ages 40-65
8. Late Adulthood-Late adulthood is generally viewed as age 65 and older, but
there are incredible variations in health and lifestyle between the “young old” and
the“oldest old,” who may be well into their 100s.
 Throughout adulthood, our bodies continue to change, and we continue to learn and grow through
experiences. Early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood are the three main stages of
physical, emotional, and psychological development. In terms of physical development, early adulthood
is the least dramatic.