Content Area I: Child Growth and Development

Understand how children acquire language and develop physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially.

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Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5

Level 1

• Recognizes children learn through play.
• Recognizes individual personalities and temperaments of children.
• Accepts cultural and linguistic variations and the effects those variations may have on behavior and development.
• Accepts special needs variations and the effects those variations may have on behavior and development.
• Addresses the individual needs of children.
• Understands the need to help each child feel accepted in the group.
• Helps children learn to communicate and get along with others.
• Encourages feelings of empathy and mutual respect among children and adults.

Level 2

• Identifies basic physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language developmental milestones of children.
• Recognizes individual children’s personalities and variations in development and their effects on children’s needs in the program.
• Matches activities and teaching strategies to children’s variable needs.
• Understands the value of children's constructive errors and does not limit exploration, experimentation, and creativity for the sake of ensuring "right" answers or standardized products.
• Recognizes variations in ability and development that may indicate a need for special attention.

Level 3

• Understands that culture and family have a critical impact on children’s development and that children are best understood in the contexts of family, culture, and society.
• Uses a variety of strategies to encourage children’s physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language development.
• Identifies and describes age-typical physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language characteristics of children.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the inter-relatedness of children’s physical, language, literacy, cognitive, personal/social, and creative development.
• Employs teaching practices inclusive of children with variations in learning styles, cultural perspectives, ability, and special needs.
• Demonstrates understanding of protective factors, resilience, the development of mental health, and the importance of supportive relationships with adults and peers.
• Demonstrates understanding of the developmental consequences of stress and trauma related to loss, neglect, and abuse.

Level 4

• Understands and applies current child development theory, information, and practice.
• Explains how developmental variations and family culture, language, and environment influence a child’s growth and development.
• Describes individual children relative to developmental characteristics typical of their age.
• Understands and describes various personality and learning styles of children.
• Identifies and uses appropriate resources and services for children with risk factors, delays, or disabilities.
• Shares information with families about general principles of child growth and development.

Level 5

• Integrates information on growth, development, and learning patterns of individuals and groups and applies to work with children, families, and staff.
• Understands and articulates the significance of family-child attachments and family dynamics for development and learning.
• Applies knowledge of cultural and linguistic diversity and the significance of socio-cultural and political contexts for development and learning.
• Promotes and communicates information about promising practices, issues, and research relevant to child growth and development.
• Understands and articulates a systems perspective on issues of mental health, the effects of stress on development, and child support and protection.
• Analyzes current research and suggests additional topics to researchers as needed.
• Is aware of current and future trends in education and the larger society and the implications for children’s development.