Define the Term Sensitive Periods and Link Them Appropriately to the Child’s First Stage of Development. Explain How You Would Support These Sensitive Periods During This First Crucial Stage.

Children and young people often experience many things which have a direct impact on their development; things such as their family environment and structure, personality, hospital visits, childcare arrangements, and culture.

The early years framework emphasises a personal and individual approach to learning and development because valuing a child’s individuality, ideas and feelings is an important part of developing an individual approach to the learning and development. A child has universal physical needs such as food, drink and shelter and psychological needs such as love, affection, security, friendship which are essential to maintaining their quality of life. In recognising and trying to meet an individual child’s needs each child’s age, physical maturity, intellectual abilities, emotional development, social skills and past experiences and relationships need to be considered.

In addition to this it motivates us to have a better relationship with our colleagues, this helps bring out the positive environment for the children and promotes good behaviour. The guideline that helps us to take on our duty of care appropriately and efficiently is the Early Years Foundation Stage. This provides a detailed explanation of children’s developmental stages which further increases our knowledge for how to demonstrate the safeguarding and protection of the individuals around us.

2.1 Explain how children and young people’s development is influenced by a range of personal factors

2. Discuss how family systems are influential in child development processes and include challenges to meeting a child’s needs, such as conflicts and poor parenting practices.

However, it is important to observe and note the difference between sequence of development and rate of development, when working with children so that the child’s needs are met. For instance if a child shows delays in any aspect of their growth, taking into account their background, health and environment in which they are growing up, as these factors will affect all areas of development. Tassani et al (2010) states that the difference between sequence of development and rate of development helps identify child’s needs during their stages of their school years. This will help the school to plan and ensure that the child has enough support they require in areas they are struggling with. It is important to be aware of each child’s development as this will give us the knowledge and understanding on how a child is developing so that any concerns or problems are easily spotted , and then investigated and offer the required support. For instance a child with language problems can then be referred to a speech therapist who would then work with the school to implement ways or skills that will help the child. If they

When looking at children and young people’s development it is important to recognise and respond to concerns to ensure that the child or young person receives the help and assistance needed.

This assignment is intended to provide evidence of a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of children and young people’s development birth to 19 years. By completing all tasks within the assignment, the candidate will provide evidence that meets the Learning Outcomes and assessment criteria for Unit 022, Understand Child and Young Person Development.

Some of the senses that are vital during the growth of the child are: hearing, vision, smelling and tasting, ability to speak and feeling pain; they are the basic improvements in the child’s mental growth, they help the child in the perception of the general occurrences in the world around the child. After the child have developed the basic senses to the major aspects of life that is when they will be able to develop permanent images of objects even if they are not there at the moment. The sensorimotor nerves of a child develops as the child make primitive movements, these improves the reflex response of a child (Piaget, & Inhelder, 2010).

Language development is related to this stage because language learning starts at birth. They listen to the speech of those close to them, and startle or cry if there is an unexpected noise.

Maria Montessori founded an education system which is called Montessori and still bares her name, her system is based on belief in the child’s creative potential, (Douglas, n.d.). Her first Casa Dei Bambini (Children’s house), where Maria was using her approach of teaching was opened in 1907 in Rome. She was great educator who believed that children are learning through their personal experience at their right time and their own pace. (Ridgway, 2007). Children rather than learning largely from what the teachers and the textbooks say, learn from “doing”,(Douglas, n.d.). To provide for children an effective, independent learning process, and that they become a competent and confident learner, Teacher had to provide for children a healthy, clean, well-prepared and well organised environment in which children could develop. Maria Montessori came up with idea that if children have to work and play independently, they have to be comfortable and need appropriately sized tools and items that fit their small hands (Mooney, 2000). Montessori believed that children learn through sensory experiences. Teacher has a responsibility to provide wonderful sights, textures, sounds, and smells for children. Sensory

The three main sensitive periods for children aged birth to six are, order, movement and language. There are also other

A sensitive period is a stage of development where a child is more receptive to stimuli and is quicker at learning new skills. The impact of stimuli and experiences are not the same throughout development. For example, if a child learns how to play an instrument or how to speak a second language before the age of 8 will most likely be more proficient as an adult. While a child who is exposed to drugs or trauma early on they are more likely to be depressed and/or addicted to drugs in adulthood. Sensitive periods in development can also be observed in nature. If song birds do not hear and copy their native song within the first two months post-birth, they may never learn their native song at all. Evidence surrounding sensitive periods existence

The child’s interest is a key to understanding what skill the child is internally building. Sensitive periods is the term Maria Montessori coined to illustrate the unique ability children have to absorb a skill or concept such as; the pincer grasp, depth perception, phonics and so on. If your child is constantly wanting to do something find materials to help facilitate the desired skill in a positive way.

A sensitive period refers to “a special sensibility which a creature acquires in its infantile state" (Montessori, 1966, p.38). Such sensitive periods were first discovered in insects by the Dutch scientist Hugo de Vries, but according to Montessori, can also be found in children and are very important to consider in teaching.