Homework: Child and Adolescent Psychology- Learning Module Activity
This short homework will provide you with an opportunity to evaluate educational products for infants and toddlers that promote cognitive development and language development. You can begin to transition to preschoolers because many toys and books are good for both toddlers and preschoolers. Select one topic, evaluate children's toys or books, and answer the questions for that topic. Be sure to support your paper with what the literature states is appropriate for each domain of development: physical, cognitive, social, and emotional. Your written homework should be three or four typed pages, double-spaced and in APA format for Psychology majors and MLA is acceptable for other majors.
Topic I: The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has a list of recommendations for developmentally appropriate equipment and toys for infants and toddlers. These include toys that are safe, washable, and too large for infants to swallow and toys for the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development from infancy to early childhood (preschoolers). Professionals responsible for setting the standards for preschool educators, state that toys should not be sharp, tiny, or have chipped paint and they should be responsive to children's actions (e.g., balls, blocks, squeaky toys). They also state that toys should be located on low, open shelves for easy access by the child (Bredekamp, 1997; Bredekamp, 2011; Gonzalez-Mena, 2007).
Research - You are responsible for purchasing indoor toys for the infant and toddler room at a child-care center. You are also responsible for finding educational toys for the children attending preschool at the center. Create a list of developmentally appropriate toys that should be included in both rooms and explain how these toys address the three domains of development for infants, toddler and preschoolers. What kinds of toys should not be included? Why? Present support for your recommendations using the literature related to appropriate toys for early development and our textbook.
See for yourself - You may walk through a local department or toy store with your list of toys. Based on your findings during the research of children's toys, what are the characteristics of safe and educational toys? How safe and appropriate are the toys currently on the market?
How do the toys you found promote the physical, cognitive and/or emotional and social development of young children? Based on the toys you found during your "See for yourself" portion of the homework, what toys would be considered unsafe or inappropriate for infants and toddlers? What toys would be considered unsafe or inappropriate for preschoolers?
Topic II: Research - You are responsible for purchasing books for the infant and toddler room and for children in early childhood attending the preschool at a child-care center. Create a list of developmentally appropriate books that should be included in both rooms and explain how these books address the three domains of development for infants, toddler, and preschoolers. What kinds of books should not be included? Why? Present support for your recommendations using the literature related to appropriate books for early development and our textbook.
See for yourself - Evaluate two or three books suitable for infants, toddlers and preschoolers from a bookstore, toy store and/or children's library. What is the content covered in each book? Are the books suitable for infants and toddlers? (Explain your answer) Are the books suitable for preschoolers? (Again, explain your answer) Are they made from durable material? Are they action oriented and gender neutral? What types of illustrations are used? How do the books promote physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development? How does the book promote language development? What do you believe makes a "good" book for children?
Bredekamp, S. (2011). Effective practices in early childhood education: Building a foundation. Pearson Publishing, Merrill. Bredekamp, S. & Copple, C. (1997). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs. Washington, D.C.: NAEYC. Gonzalez-Mena, J. & Eyer, D. (2007).
Infants, toddlers, and caregivers (7th Ed.) New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
• The answer must be using Times New Roman font (size 12), double spaced, and typed, with one-inch margins on all sides.
• The response also includes a cover page containing the student's name, the title of the homework, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
• Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.