ACP 107 – CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND ARTS
,INTRODUCTION
Child Psychology is a course offered within the Bachelor of Psychology degree course.
This course introduces students to the many different perspectives in child psychology. It is
designed to provide the learner with the knowledge, and skills required relevant to child and
family counseling as well as dealing with children in care settings. Focus will be given to
theories of child development, stages of development and the factors affecting development of
children.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course the learner should;
Be familiar with the different theoretical models of understanding child development.
To understand Areas and methods of Research on Children
Explain different areas of childhood development
Appreciate the factors influencing the child’s development.
Discuss Resilience in Children.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction to child psychology
o A brief overview of the course (Child psychology).
o History of Child Psychology.
o The concept of Childhood.
o Areas of Application
2. Theories of Child Psychology
o Psychoanalytic child development theories
o Cognitive child development theories
o Social child development theories
2
,3. Research methodology in child psychology
o Importance of research on child development
o Measurement techniques used in developmental research
o Ethical issues involved in research with children
4. Areas of Child Development.
o Physical Development
o Cognitive development
o Language and communication;
o Emotional development.
5. Brain Development
o Brain Development
o Risk factors for Brain development
o Windows of Opportunity
6. Stages of development
o Prenatal Development
o Birth and Neonate
o Early Childhood, Middle Childhood,
o Transition to Adolescence
7. Ecological influences on child development
o The family environment
o Poverty and consequences
o Impact of community violence
o Cultural and maturational influences
8. Developmental psychopathologies
o Development of some childhood disorders
o Risk and Resilience
o Prevention and treatment
3
, LECTURER 1
INTRODUCTION TO CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
1.1 LECTURE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to: Define
the term child psychology.
State the goals of child psychology.
Discuss the history of child psychology
Explain the concept of childhood
Discuss the applications of child psychology.
1.2 INTRODUCTION
In this section we are going to introduce what child psychology is.
Child psychology is also referred to as child development. It is the study of the psychological
processes of children and, specifically, how these processes differ from those of adults, how they
develop from birth to the end of adolescence, and how and why they differ from one child to the
next.
Child psychology represents an approach to understanding children through a description and an
explanation of the psychological changes which children undergo in the course of time. E.g as
children grow older they form attachments to people, acquire language and learn to behave in
ways that are rewarding. They become able to regulate their own behavior.
4
FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND ARTS
,INTRODUCTION
Child Psychology is a course offered within the Bachelor of Psychology degree course.
This course introduces students to the many different perspectives in child psychology. It is
designed to provide the learner with the knowledge, and skills required relevant to child and
family counseling as well as dealing with children in care settings. Focus will be given to
theories of child development, stages of development and the factors affecting development of
children.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course the learner should;
Be familiar with the different theoretical models of understanding child development.
To understand Areas and methods of Research on Children
Explain different areas of childhood development
Appreciate the factors influencing the child’s development.
Discuss Resilience in Children.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction to child psychology
o A brief overview of the course (Child psychology).
o History of Child Psychology.
o The concept of Childhood.
o Areas of Application
2. Theories of Child Psychology
o Psychoanalytic child development theories
o Cognitive child development theories
o Social child development theories
2
,3. Research methodology in child psychology
o Importance of research on child development
o Measurement techniques used in developmental research
o Ethical issues involved in research with children
4. Areas of Child Development.
o Physical Development
o Cognitive development
o Language and communication;
o Emotional development.
5. Brain Development
o Brain Development
o Risk factors for Brain development
o Windows of Opportunity
6. Stages of development
o Prenatal Development
o Birth and Neonate
o Early Childhood, Middle Childhood,
o Transition to Adolescence
7. Ecological influences on child development
o The family environment
o Poverty and consequences
o Impact of community violence
o Cultural and maturational influences
8. Developmental psychopathologies
o Development of some childhood disorders
o Risk and Resilience
o Prevention and treatment
3
, LECTURER 1
INTRODUCTION TO CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
1.1 LECTURE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to: Define
the term child psychology.
State the goals of child psychology.
Discuss the history of child psychology
Explain the concept of childhood
Discuss the applications of child psychology.
1.2 INTRODUCTION
In this section we are going to introduce what child psychology is.
Child psychology is also referred to as child development. It is the study of the psychological
processes of children and, specifically, how these processes differ from those of adults, how they
develop from birth to the end of adolescence, and how and why they differ from one child to the
next.
Child psychology represents an approach to understanding children through a description and an
explanation of the psychological changes which children undergo in the course of time. E.g as
children grow older they form attachments to people, acquire language and learn to behave in
ways that are rewarding. They become able to regulate their own behavior.
4
