The Developing Child
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The Developing Child
From the neurons to neighborhoods research focus on the early child hood development, the research addresses how scientific knowledge can be applied in early childhood development. The report notes policy development, research, and services as the key areas where the scientific knowledge can be applied. Reading this report at orderwriters.com had a great influence on my knowledge regarding early childhood development.
To begin with, the report has made me realize that we need to put extra effort on matters concerning early childhood development basing on the existing scientific knowledge (Phillips & Shonkoff, 2000). The report also shows that there is a lot of redundant knowledge on childhood development that need to be applied. The beginning of something determines its development and how it ends and therefore early childhood development is important for the development of a healthy generation. The nurturing of the young children at their early stages of development determines their adult life and therefore it is very important. Secondly, through reading the summary I have noted that the mental and social development in a child is of equal importance in their development. The total health of a child determines their adult life and therefore it is important to ensure that all children have a healthy development at early stages of life.
The social development of a child depends on their relationship with the society while their mental health depends on exposure to several factors. These factors determine whether the child has good or poor mental health. Some of these factors are exposure to drugs, the right education, and attention from their parents (Phillips & Shonkoff, 2000). How a child think is also important in the development of their mental and emotional health, a child thinking depends mainly on their relationship with their parents and guardians.
We are living in a fast changing world and therefore these changes should be reflected in our lives. This implies that the lives of children below five years should also be considered in these changes. The scientific knowledge on the other hand is changing to cope with the demands but we are not applying these changes appropriately. Although there has been a lot of scientific advancement, most of the knowledge is applied in fields that are not concerned with human development and therefore the changes have not factored the early childhood development.
Finally, through scientific facts and knowledge we can influence the restructuring of the existing policies on early childhood development. Through the existing scientific knowledge, we can create new policies that best address the needs of children at their early stages of life (Kagan, Shepard & Wurtz, 2001). What questions and/or concerns did this report engender?
This report has several questions and concern regarding early childhood development and nurturing. To begin with, the report shows concern on how the scientific application has neglected early childhood development and children concerns. According to the report, current scientific inventions are biased towards economic development and therefore there is more to be done concerning early childhood development.
Secondly, the report is concerned with the fast changing ways of life that does not incorporate the needs of the young children. The report proposes that we need to put more effort especially in the social and emotional development of children.
Through the study of science in the Child Development Program, I hope to obtain answers for the following questions.
1. How does early education affect the mental development of a child?
2. Is there a relationship between the diet of a child at their early stages of life and their mental development?
3. Do children have emotions such as love and hate?
References
Kagan, L., Shepard, L., & Wurtz, E. (2001). Principles and recommendations for early childhood assessments. The State Education Standard, 2(2), 5-12.
Phillips, D., & Shonkoff, P. (2000). From neurons to neighbourhoods: The science of early childhood development. Washington: National Academies Press.