Assignment Part A: 400 words
After viewing the two videos, reading Chapter 4 and reviewing the Developmental Milestones document, think about how infants and toddlers develop and how the different areas of development (Physical, Cognitive, Social Emotional) are connected. Write a short two-page essay about ways that a teacher in a classroom can support a young child's development. What activities can a teacher do to help a child move from one developmental stage to another? How can a teacher tie one area of development to another? Talk about how it is important for the teacher to support the child's development through the different developmental areas. How can a teacher be "purposeful" when planning activities to support a child's development? Why is it important to understand the developmental milestones in a child's development? Reminder - you may submit assignments in English or Spanish - whichever language is more comfortable for you.
YouTube Video: Supporting Physical Development in Infants and Toddlers
YouTube Video: Developmental Milestones for Babies
Review: Child Growth and Development (Paris, Ricardo, Rymond, and Johnson)
Assignment Part B: 300 words
Zone of Proximal Development (5.3 in the above textbook)
Look at your text section 5.3 "Cognitive Milestones" and watch the video on Vygotsky Now I'd like you to think about how understanding how infants and toddlers typically develop might be able to help teachers "scaffold" a child's learning. Do you think this can apply to children as young as infants or toddlers? Be specific, using examples of activities that a teacher could use to help a child achieve certain milestones. Do you agree with Vygotsky that adults/teachers are important to a child in achieving these milestones? Why or why not?