Child Development Knowledge Essay Example

Competency Importance in the Field of Child Development

1. Competency 1 is concerned with child development knowledge and therefore it is a vital field that every Preschool “Head start” Teacher should be conversant with. There are six sub-competencies in competency 1, including theoretical perspectives, developmental domains, lifespan, child context, contemporary issues, and theories and research. Theoretical perspectives cover theoretical perspectives in various developmental domains such as biological, social, cognitive, emotional, physical, and language. Developmental domains are an extension of the theoretical perspectives, while lifespan is a study of development from early stages to later development. Child context explains how factors such as family, peers, and culture shape development, while contemporary issues concern dynamics that influence development. Sub-competency of theories and research explains how they affect each other.

2. From my opinion as a Preschool “Head Start” Teacher, the content in this competency is important because it helps me to understand theories underpinning child development. Through covering the content thoroughly, I can get a good grasp of the factors that influence child development. A teacher of young learners understands factors that promote learning and those that act as barriers to learning. Studying the content helps me to understand the milestones and developmental sequences that occur in each domain. Further, the contents help understand the developmental stages from early years throughout life, factors that influence development, and how theory and research affect them.
3. A child development professional needs to understand the developmental domains at every stage of life, such as cognitive, physical, language/communication, and social and emotional. The cognitive domain helps the professional understand aspects of a child’s thinking and problem-solving, while the physical domains help in understanding issues such as maturation, body growth, and motor skills. The language/communication domain is crucial in understanding expressive and receptive language, written, and verbal communication. However, social and emotional domains are vital in understanding the self, emotions, and relationships with others.
4. Another sub-competency that is vital for any professional concerned with child development is child context as it helps one to be aware of the important conditions that should be emphasized throughout developmental stages. Child context will help the professional to understand the factors that influence development, including peers, family, culture, and environment. The professional can help a teacher like me to advice others on the contextual factors associated with positive development that can make a great difference in the academic journey of a learner. Knowledge of this sub-competency is vital for teaching others how to identify and eliminate or minimize contextual factors that have a negative effect on development. For example, suppose media such as TV have an impact on the child. In that case, the professional can advise the parents about the programs that promote positive development and those that can negatively shape the child.

Competency Knowledge

1. Generally, I am satisfied that I have understood the various aspects of the competency and how they can contribute to my effectiveness as a teacher of young learners. The competency is interesting, and I have not encountered challenges understanding it because the delivery is in line with my style of learning. The language and illustrations used in the content of the competency have helped me to understand the contents better. Additionally, the competency contains well-summarized content that makes it easier for me to get the basics quickly. After answering all the thought exercises at the end of every sub-competency, I have found they contributed much in helping me to gauge my understanding of the competency.
2. One of the sub-competencies that I know most about is child context. I have learned the content of the sub-competency through observations, what others talk about, and stories I have read and heard in the past concerning factors that influence the development of a child. I used to be warned by my parents and teachers that I should avoid the bad company because peers can influence me to behave badly and may affect my performance in school. I have read some sources that children watching bad TV content are more likely to be impacted negatively by the content. I have also learned that it is easier to teach students using content with animated cartoons as they influence them positively to develop an interest in the topic.
3. One sub-competency that I know least about is theory and research. I do not understand how theory and research influence each other and I am curious in leaning this interrelationship. I want to improve my understanding of this topic by asking for help from classmates, teachers, and anybody who knows better about this topic. I want to get materials about the sub-competency that explains it in simple language. Further, I would like to study more about the applications of the sub-competency in the developmental stages.
4. I want to learn more about theory and research sub-competency. This is because it is a sub-competency that I know least about. Theory and research are vital in my future career endeavors, and I find it crucial to learn it. I also believe that learning theory and research is critical to understanding the other sub-competencies. Further, I believe a good understanding between theory, research, and social justice will broaden my understanding of how the competency is applied in real life.

Competency for your Career

1. This competency is crucial to my career goals as Preschool “Head Start” Teacher. I want to be a competent Preschool teacher who can make a great difference in learners’ lives. I cannot achieve my goal if I do not know anything about child development knowledge. As a preschool teacher of young learners, I will indirectly make a positive impact them by sharing with their parents or guardians how they can contribute to shaping their development. A good foundation for this competency is key to my further studies as I am interested in scaling up the academic ladder in this topic.
2. The contemporary issue is a sub-competency that I can use its content in my future career as Preschool “Head Start” Teacher. Technology is dynamic, and I am interested as a preschool to  learn how it affects development of young learners. As I advance in my career in teaching, I am interested in theory and research on contemporary issues and child development. As a future expert in the teaching profession, I will guide people professionally about the link between contemporary issues and development among young learners. Further, I would like to contribute to making education policies that promote positive child development and banning those negatively influencing children, especially those that impede their education or learning.
3. As a Preschool “Head Start” Teacher, developmental domains sub-competency is applicable in teaching young learners in the future. As a preschool teacher, I will use the theory when developing assessment tests about cognitive skills of the children. Language and communication are crucial when I will be teaching young learners to master written, verbal, and expressive skills. Additionally, the sub-competency is important when I will be identifying teaching styles that make a great impact on the learners. Through this sub-competency, I will use the ideas to help young learners to develop positively in all spheres of life, from cognitive, communication, and physical to emotional and social.

Competency Reflection

1. One of the ideas that I found interesting is the effect of contextual factors on child development. The concept helps me to understand the origin of certain characters observed in some adults. The idea also helps me appreciate the importance of avoiding anything that can impede a child’s positive development. Additionally, the concept has helped me to understand the significance of parents and school in shaping the development of a learner. The idea of contextual factors can be used to devise learning materials or content that creates interest among the learners.
2. One of the videos that stood out is Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) (CDC, 2021). Through the video, I learned how early childhood experiences could have a tremendous impact on the child. I have learned how traumatic events such as abuse and neglect can increase risks for future problems. I understood how poverty and lack of supervision could negatively impact children’s development. Further, I was happy to learn from the narrator’s experiences that ACEs and their consequences can be prevented.

Reference

CDC. (2021). Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html