Chapter 1 The Concept of Development 1 Development a Change from whining to the more sophisticated strategy is considered b Developmentalists development and integration of relatively permanent age related changes in biological and psychological systems through transactions with the environment define development as the gradual accumulation c Development is Gradual i Observed and measured over periods of months or years ii The gradual nature of developmental change has important practical implications To facilitate your children s development you must be both persistent and consistent in your efforts bring about change over extended periods of time d Development is Cumulative i Developmental changes build upon one another ii Example child learning to walk and then to climb iii Every change is potentially important in leading to some skill or ability i ii Regression e Developmental change is relatively Permanent Is typically irreversible good and bad brought on by illness injury deprivation abuse or severe trauma more serious reversals in development May be f Development is Transactional i Single direction cause and effect explanations of behavior and development are overly simplistic ii Children influence environment as much as environment influences them iii Every action you direct toward your child has some important reaction in the child g Development takes place in an Ecosystem i Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environments ii According to Urie Bronfenbrenner the ecosystem has four levels 1 Microsystem children interact with family most dominant peers and services such as day cared and school 2 Mesosystem relationships among elements of the microsystem Example is the relationship between the day care and the family Communication between them is key 3 Exosystem social supports available to the family in the community The availability of social support for families in the community can make the difference between hard time and crisis 4 Macrosystem deals with the cultural context of development societal values reflected in social policies toward children Support for social and education services plays a critical role in the welfare of children iii Researchers demonstrated a direct relationship between violence in the social and political system exosystem and children s experience of aggression in their community families and schools microsystem Development at Risk children 2 The course of development and its outcomes vary significantly among a Depending on each child s unique experience of risk and opportunity b Risk threatens to undermine development and sacrifice the child s potential Opportunity supports development and promotes the realization of that potential c David Elkind believes that the contemporary yuppie family s approach to child rearing promotes a child s sense of helplessness d Parents who are competitive and try to produce a perfect child confuse rapid development with optimal development e Less advantaged kids receive inadequate stimulation during the first years of their lives slowing cognitive development and reducing ability to learn Most of these kids will live their lives in poverty tendency to fall prey to risk is the tendency to overcome risks Vulnerability is the f Resilience Facilitating Development 3 Different ways that children respond to risk and opportunity a How those who deal with children can facilitate development by minimizing children s exposure to risk and maximizing their exposure to opportunity b Conscientious parents anticipate risk while less involved parents fail to see the dangers and to protect their children c Many opportunities are short lived and only apparent to those adults who are waiting and watching being really involved d A big challenge is deciding how to approach their children to promote their development i Some believe that its totally dependent on what the parents teachers do Dominating their children s lives by manipulating their environment and regulating their behavior Outcome passive child who is infinitely pliable and changeable ii Others believe is a natural process that is predetermined by forces Very na ve e What should we do then i Knowing development is gradual be patient ii Knowing it is cumulative and irreversible every experience is vital iii Knowning that development is transactional developmental change does not result form doing nothing to a child Encouraging change as we experience change in ourselves Meet the Children Lashonda Martin o Brooklyn NY o African American poor and exceedingly hazardous context for child and adolescent development o Pretty lean enjoys school studies intensely and excels at school socially skilled RESPECTED o Speaks Black English and Standard English Heather Allen father o White working class neighborhood in Milwaukee o Depressed alcoholic mother physical and verbal abuse Never knew o Streets have offered her acceptance and sense of control o Parents say she is impulsive angry unpredictable rebellious and manipulative Been expelled many times o Friends say she is clever assertive dependable persistent and loyal o Drinking since 10 Drugs since 12 not addicted Sex since 13 no kids or diseases Carlos Rodriquez o LA middle class mother and father o Shy soically incompetent and no close friends Known as fat kid o Lonely and depressed from obesity But is intensely bright and creative nerd
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