This course book is the companion text for the Child Development: Brain Building course that covers the latest research on brain and child development to give participants foundational knowledge in development progressions for children from birth to age 5. Through course readings, discussions, activities, and assignments, you will learn to identify children’s developmental trajectories. An emphasis on brain development will provide a unique lens to apply in an early learning program as another tool to identify developmental progressions.

You will learn how to create early childhood environments that promote physical, language, social and emotional, and cognitive development. You will also explore the key role that individual differences and family and socio-cultural context plays in development and learn strategies to build relationships that support each child’s individual development.

Course Topics

This course book will cover principles of child development across all developmental domains and will relate these domains to the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (HSELOF). The course will also emphasize the importance of understanding each child’s development within the context of the child’s environment and relationships.

Here is an overview of the course book topics:

• Brain and physical development
• Language development
• Social and emotional development
• Cognitive development
• Child development and learning in context
• Child development in the context of family, community, and culture

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About this course book

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