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ECFS1002

COURSE OUTLINE

 

Course Title:              Child Growth and Development

Course Code:             ECFS 1002

Credits:                      3

Level:                          1

Prerequisites:             None

 

Course Description

This course examines the theories, concepts, and trends related to early childhood growth and development from prenatal development through the early years. It explores the physical, social, cultural, emotional, cognitive, language and literacy development of children and how the different aspects of growth and development affect each other throughout early childhood. The course also examines both typical and atypical growth and development of children from diverse cultural backgrounds. It includes activities to guide teachers and caregivers in providing opportunities  that  support  the  physical,  social,  cultural,  emotional,  language,  and  cognitive growth and development of all young children.

This course aims to:

  • Produce a cadre of early childhood professionals who recognize the importance of a holistic approach to child growth and development.
  • Position early childhood professionals to meet the demand for effectively supporting early childhood growth and development in a dynamic environment.
  • Enable early childhood professionals to partner with significant adults in fostering and facilitating the optimum growth and development of young children.
  • Develop early childhood professionals who recognize the valuable contribution of early childhood growth and development to the individual child as well as national economic development.

 

The goals of this course are:

  1. To provide you with knowledge and skills that will enable you to effectively facilitate the process of growth and development in young children.
  2. To provide you with the capacity to facilitate 'readiness development' in and the effective transitioning of the early childhood cohort to higher levels of learning.
  3. To establish the relationship between appropriate early childhood growth and development, human capital and an improved quality of life.

 

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to: Knowledge

  1. Define and discuss growth and development in young children.
  2. Assess the major theories and concepts related to early childhood growth and development in the context of a framework for early childhood development practice.
  3. Analyse the evidence based approach to early brain development and relate the underpinning knowledge to child growth and development in the early years.
  4. Analyse the impact of early childhood environments on the growth and development of young children taking into account prenatal stages and the role of the family.
  5. Analyse the development of the physical, cognitive, social, emotional, language, and literacy domains in the context of the growth and development of the whole child.
  6. Identify and describe the factors that promote growth and development in young children.
  7. Outline the milestones which reflect typical growth and development in young children from diverse cultural backgrounds.
  8. Assess the principle of inclusion and its application to support children who may exhibit atypical growth and development.
  9. Analyse the relationship between early childhood growth and development, human capital and an improved quality of life

    Attitude

  1. Recognize the value in assisting young children attain healthy growth and appropriate development.
  2. Display a commitment to accepting children who manifest atypical growth and development

Skills

  1. Develop and implement evidence based child growth and development interventions.
  2. Plan schedules for and implement best practices to effectively promote the growth development of young children.
  3. Monitor and evaluate the growth and developmental progress of young children, interpret the findings and appropriately address identified gaps.
  4. Design strategies for partnering with stakeholders to foster and facilitate the optimum growth and development of young children.
  5. Implement and promote early childhood best practices to encourage and support high quality programmes and service delivery which are integral to appropriate    growth and development of children during the early years.