Child &Young People Development (2 days)

This course provides an overview of child and young people development from birth to late teens. Knowledge of child development is essential for carers and professional staff to both understand and support the appropriate development of children and young people. The course will therefore deliver knowledge and information, but also encourage participants to apply such knowledge in their practice with children and young people.

The knowledge base will include the “nature vs. nurture debate “of development. An overview of recent developments in the understanding of the importance of attachment behaviours will be presented. The interaction of nature and nurture, with reference to critical stages in infant, child and adolescent development will be illustrated. Child and young person development will be presented within the wider understanding of diversity in societal and cultural norms; gender issues; Family Life Cycles and impact upon carers and parents.

The key development tasks will be presented through stages age 0-5 years; 6 years -to onset of puberty; early, middle and late adolescence. This will include development of child’s understanding of self and the way in which identity develops and changes. Also the relevance of developmental stages will be emphasised in respect of Social work decision making relating to adoption and placements outside of natural families.

The range of different attachment styles which children develop and the associated patterns of behaviour and interaction will be presented. Participants will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge in case studies to determine appropriate ways to help children and young people to overcome barriers to their healthy development. This will include the issue of sharing information with children and young people about their own development as a way of supporting and empowering children and young people.

The learning objectives:

By the end of this course learners should understand:

•The key developmental stages and tasks for children and young people
from infancy up to late adolescence
• The importance of interaction between nature( brain development)
and nurture( attachment behaviour) at critical phases of child development,
and the problems which arise if attachment behaviour in critical phases is
not successfully undertaken
•The range of different attachment styles shown by infants, children and
young people and methods of utilising this knowledge to promote healthy
development
• The importance of the development of the notion of self; the evolving nature
of identity and the impact which gender and cultural diversity has upon it
• The importance of sharing information about development with children a
young people to empower them to develop their understanding of their own
position, and the issues for them of their own development

Learning methods:

• Tutor presentations
• Self audit exercises
• Case studies
• Handouts
• Small group work
• Discussion