Lesson video

Hello, I'm Miss Kumar, and I'm so pleased that you've chosen to learn with me today.

Today's lesson is called Child Development and it's taken from our unit Healthy Relationships: What Is Good Parenting? I would really recommend that you do this lesson with a trusted adult because there might be some parts that you find challenging or upsetting.

If at any point during the lesson you do feel worried or upset, please pause the video and speak to your trusted adult.

The outcome for today's lesson is, I can explain the different parenting roles needed for the different stages in childhood development.

Before we begin any learning, let's remind ourselves of some important ground rules.

Laura reminds us to listen to others.

It is okay to disagree with each other, but we should listen properly before we make any assumptions or decide how to respond.

If and when we do disagree, let's make sure that we challenge the statement and not the person.

Andeep reminds us to respect privacy.

We can discuss examples, but we should be careful not to use names or descriptions that might identify anyone, and that includes ourselves.

Jacob reminds us no judgment.

We can explore beliefs and misunderstandings about a topic, but we should be able to do this without the fear of being judged.

And Izzy reminds us that it's okay for us to choose our own level of participation.

Everyone has the right to choose whether or not to answer a question, join in a discussion, and we should never make anyone feel put on the spot or uncomfortable.

Throughout today's lesson, you'll notice that there are some words in bold black font, these are keywords.

Let's take a quick look at today's keywords and what they mean.

Infancy.

This is the stage of childhood from birth to two years of age.

Early childhood.

This is the stage of childhood from two to six years of age.

Middle childhood.

This is the stage of childhood from 6 to 12 years of age.

And adolescence.

This is the stage of development from 12 to 18 years of age.

Today's lesson is split into three parts.

Let's start with part one, what are the key stages in child development? Children go through developmental stages.

They go through infancy, which is birth to two years.

This is followed by early childhood, which is two to six years.

This leads onto middle childhood, which is 6 to 12 years.

And then it's finally followed by adolescence between 12 and 18 years.

All children develop in different ways and at different speeds.

There are typical stages of child development, but it's important to remember that there's a wide range of what is considered normal for each stage.

Each of the stages is characterized by developments in four areas.

One area is physical development.

This includes fine and gross motor skills, that's the small and large movements that we do.

Fine motor skills include holding a pencil, whereas gross motor skills include things like learning to walk.

Physical developments also include physical growth and body changes.

Another area of development is cognitive.

This is the ability to understand or gain knowledge, it's also the ability to think.

Emotional development includes feelings, starting to understand what our feelings might mean and being able to regulate our feelings.

And social development.

This includes our interactions with others.

Development happens across all of these areas at the same time, but the focus may shift depending on the stage.

Time for our first check for understanding.

What's missing from the list of developmental stages? We've got infancy and middle childhood.

You can pause to think about your answer, press play when you're ready to move on.

The answers are early childhood and adolescence.

Let's now take a closer look at child development in each of those four stages, starting with infancy.

During infancy, physical changes will include rapid growth and learning to sit, crawl, and walk.

Cognitive changes will include brain development, understanding cause and effect.

For instance, if I do this, then that will happen.

And they'll also start to explore senses.

Emotional development will include forming an attachment with caregivers.

And social development will be seen in the form of smiling, babbling, and early attempts at speech.

Children in this stage of infancy are learning to feel safe, they're starting to form bonds with their caregivers and beginning to explore the world around them.

Early childhood.

Physical developments will include running, jumping, drawing, and toilet training.

Cognitive development will include asking questions, pretend play, and starting to recognize letters and pictures.

Emotional development will include tantrums, developing autonomy, that's independence and beginning to understand empathy.

And social developments will include playing with others, learning to share and take turns.

Children in this stage of early childhood are learning how to express big emotions and starting to build relationships with others.

Which of the following best describes early childhood rather than infancy? A, forming secure attachments and exploring the world through sensory experiences, B, rapid growth and learning to crawl, sit, and walk independently, or C, expressing big emotions, asking questions, and learning to play with others.

You can pause to have a think and then just press play when you're ready to see the answer.

The answer is C.

Expressing big emotions, asking questions, and learning to play with others best describes early childhood.

Well done if you got that correct.

Let's now take a closer look at middle childhood.

During middle childhood, some of the physical developments that might be seen are fine Motor skills improving, for example, writing or sports.

Movement also starts to become more coordinated.

Cognitive changes include the developing of logical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Emotional changes might include taking pride in achievements and awareness of rules and fairness and growing self-esteem.

And social developments include friendships becoming more important.

Teamwork and cooperation can also improve.

At this stage, children become more independent and start to compare themselves to others.

During adolescence, some of the physical changes and developments include puberty, growth spurts, and sexual development.

Some of the cognitive developments include abstract thinking, moral reasoning, and long-term planning.

Emotional changes might be seen in mood swings, identity exploration, forming beliefs and values, and exploring risk.

And some social developments might include strong peer influence or an interest in close and romantic relationships, and maybe even starting to question authority.

At this stage, teenagers are trying to figure out who they are and how they want to be in the world.

At which stage do children begin to develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills? A, infancy, B, early childhood, C, middle childhood, or D, adolescence.

You can pause to have a quick think and then just press play when you're ready to see the answer.

The answer is C, middle childhood.

That brings us to the first task for today's lesson, task A.

Complete the paragraph with the correct words.

There are four stages in, blank, development, blank, which is birth to two years, blank, blank, which is two to six years, middle childhood, which is six to, blank, years, adolescence, which is, blank, to, blank, years.

Each stage involves development in, blank, areas, blank, which is fine and gross motor skills, physical, blank, and change, cognitive, which is understanding, knowledge, thought, blank, which is feelings, blank, which is interactions with others.

You can pause the video to do this task, and when you're ready to see the answers, just press play.

Let's take a look at the answers together.

Your completed paragraph should look like this.

There are four stages in childhood development, infancy, which is birth to two years, early childhood, which is two to six years, middle childhood, which is 6 to 12 years, adolescence, which is 12 to 18 years.

Each stage involves development in four areas, physical, which is fine and gross motor skills, physical growth, and change, cognitive, which is understanding, knowledge, thought, emotional, which is feelings, and social, which is interactions with others.

Well done if all or most of your answers were correct.

That brings us to the second part of today's lesson, what are the key challenges of each stage? Each stage comes with its own challenges that children must work through as part of growing up.

In infancy, the main challenge is developing trust in caregivers.

Babies need to feel secure and cared for.

If they receive consistent and responsive care, they quickly learn that the world is a safe place.

Infants will often experience separation anxiety, as they feel safe with their carer and do not want them to leave.

Here's a quick case study.

Let's have a look at Zeb.

At 10 months old, Zeb cried intensely whenever his dad left the room.

This separation anxiety showed his growing attachment and need for reassurance.

So, what does this show? Well, first of all, it's completely normal, and what it's showing is that Zeb is learning to trust that his dad will return once he's left the room.

In early childhood, the main challenge is developing autonomy, that's independence, and emotional regulation.

Children are discovering their own desires and abilities.

They want to have control, but they lack the language and the emotional tools to cope when things don't go their way.

Tantrums are very common during this stage, as children are testing the boundaries and sometimes they struggle to express their emotions in appropriate ways.

Let's take a look at another case study, this time, Leo.

At the age of three, Leo wanted to pour his own juice, but spilt it.

Frustrated, he screamed and threw the cup.

What does this show us about what's happening with Leo? Well, it shows that Leo wants autonomy, he wants to be independent, which is why he's trying to pour his drink.

However, once he spilled the drink, he then lacks the emotional regulation to manage his frustrations, which is why he screams and throws the cup.

True or false? Tantrums are a key feature of infancy.

You can pause to have a think and just press play when you're ready to see the answer.

The answer is false, but can you remember why? Tantrums are a key feature of early childhood as children at this stage want autonomy, but are still lacking in emotional regulation, so do not know how to express themselves.

During middle childhood, the main challenge is building confidence and a sense of competence, that means feeling capable and being able to succeed.

Children begin to compare themselves to others, especially at school.

Their sense of self or who they are is often shaped by success, feedback, and peer relationships.

They start to recognize their own strengths and weaknesses and they want to feel good at something.

Let's take a look at the case study of Jemima.

At age eight, Jemima struggled with reading and saw classmates finishing books more quickly.

They began to feel inferior and avoided reading aloud.

So, what is this showing us about Jemima's development? Well, it shows that Jemima noticed that they weren't as competent or capable as other pupils.

As a result, Jemima's confidence was challenged by comparison.

Finally, let's take a look at adolescence.

One of the main challenges during adolescence is trying to form a personal identity and developing independence.

Teenagers begin to question the world around them and they want to be their own person.

At the same time, however, they still need support and guidance from adults and they want to fit in.

As a result, this stage can feel confusing.

Let's have a look at Sia's case study.

At 15, Sia wanted to dye her hair blue to express her individuality.

Her parents disapproved.

Angry and frustrated, she felt misunderstood, but still needed their help with her schoolwork.

Sia is trying to develop her individuality.

However, there is a tension between Sia's desire for independence and the support that she still needs from her parents.

True or false? The challenge for adolescents is to have confidence in their competence.

You can pause to have a think and then just press play when you're ready to move on.

The answer is false.

Have a think about why.

The challenge for adolescents is to develop their own identity and independence, while the challenge for middle childhood is developing confidence and competence.

Well done if you got the answer correct.

That brings us to the second task for today's lesson, task B.

Match the key challenges to the correct childhood stage.

Down the left, we've got infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence.

And down the right, we've got confidence and competence, individuality and independence, trust and security, and autonomy and emotional regulation.

You can pause to carry out this task, and then when you're ready to see some answers, just press play.

Let's take a look at the answers together.

Your answer should look like this.

During infancy, the challenge is to develop trust and security.

During early childhood, the challenge is to develop autonomy and emotional regulation.

During middle childhood, the challenge is to develop confidence and competence.

And during adolescence, the challenge is to develop individuality and independence.

Well done if you got your answers correct.

That brings us to the third and final part of today's lesson, what roles do parents and carers play? Parents and carers support their child's development by playing many different roles.

They are a caregiver, that means meeting basic needs and providing emotional security.

They are a child's teacher, that means supporting learning, curiosity, and values.

They play the role of a disciplinarian, that means setting boundaries and providing structure.

They also play the role of a supporter, that means encouraging passions, interests, and friendships.

They should also be a role model, showing positive behaviors, emotional regulation, and respect.

True or false? A parent or carer being a role model supports emotional regulation.

You can pause to think and then just press play when you're ready to move on.

The answer is true.

While all roles are important throughout childhood, some are more relevant at certain stages.

For example, the caregiver role is needed most in infancy.

Let's take a quick look at our infancy case study, Zeb.

At 10 months, Zeb cried whenever his dad left the room.

His dad's gentle care, quick returns, and predictable routines helped Zeb feel secure over time.

This consistent caregiving helped Zeb develop trust.

The role model and teacher roles are needed most in early childhood.

Let's look again at Leo, our case study for early childhood.

At age three, Leo became upset after spilling juice.

His parents stayed calm, said things like, "It's okay to feel frustrated," and encouraged him to try again.

They taught him how to express his emotions and build resilience.

The disciplinarian and supporter roles are needed most in middle childhood.

You might remember Jemima, our middle childhood case study.

At age eight, Jemima felt discouraged by reading.

With support from school and home, Jemima gained confidence and improved.

Boundaries and encouragement helped Jemima rebuild self-esteem.

The supporter and role model roles are needed the most in adolescence.

Let's take a quick look at Sia, our case study for adolescence.

At 15, Sia wanted more independence.

Her parents disagreed with her choices, but listened and had honest conversations.

They balanced guidance with growing respect for Sia's autonomy.

What role is being described here? Demonstrating healthy relationships, emotional regulation, and responsibility.

You can pause to have a quick think and then press play when you're ready to move on.

The answer is role model.

Well done if you got that correct.

That brings us to the third and final task for today's lesson, task C.

Write an information leaflet for new parents or carers explaining their key roles for each of the four developmental stages.

Include an example of how to fulfill each role.

You can pause this video to carry out the task, and when you're ready to move on, just press play.

How did you get on? Let's have a look at some possible answers together.

Your information leaflet may have included these points.

For infancy, which is birth to two years, the key roles are of a caregiver.

An example is to provide food, warmth, and comfort.

It's also to create predictable routines and to be gentle and responsive.

For early childhood, which is two to six years old, the key roles are role model and teacher.

Examples include talk to children, model calm behavior, help them understand their feelings, and support self-regulation.

For middle childhood, which is 6 to 12 years, the key roles are of a disciplinarian and supporter.

The examples include to set boundaries and routines to help children feel safe, to listen and provide support for friendships and school challenges, and to praise their progress.

Finally, for adolescents, which is 12 to 18 years, the key roles are supporter and role model.

The examples include give teenagers space to make their own choices while being available for advice and support, respect their need for independence and talk openly about challenges they face.

Well done if your answers were along those lines.

That brings us to the end of today's lesson, but before we finish, let's take a quick look at today's lesson summary.

Parenting plays a crucial role in childhood development.

There are four stages in childhood development, infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence.

Each stage involves physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes.

Each stage also brings different challenges that children need help to overcome.

Parents and carers play different roles at each stage, including being a caregiver, teacher, disciplinarian, supporter, and role model.

The roles of parents and carers changes over time.

Well done on all your hard work this lesson.

I hope that you have more of an understanding of child development.

If you need any support following today's lesson, you can look at the following websites.

NHS Live Well.

Here you can get NHS advice about healthy living, exercise, quitting smoking, and drinking less alcohol.

And the NHS website.

This provides NHS advice about health and prevention, including how to access services.