| A child development specialist is a professional | | | | evaluating a child's growth and development and is |
| who has an understanding of child growth and | | | | also a way to predict how a child is most likely to |
| development. A child development specialist is an | | | | continue to grow and develop, based on past |
| expert in developmental psychology; which is the | | | | behavior and their current growth rate. |
| study of how a child grows physically, and how | | | | In order to gain information on child growth and |
| their behaviors change over time as they interact | | | | development, a child development specialist |
| with the world around them. | | | | studies up-to-date research which investigates and |
| The time span of interest for a child development | | | | analyzes information gathered about children |
| specialist is from infancy to late adolescence. The | | | | through various types of research. |
| work of the child development specialist is to | | | | The scientific method of research involves 5 |
| identify a child's behaviors, and predict and explain | | | | steps. The first step is to observe a situation. The |
| these behaviors. These professionals also strive to | | | | second is to predict how a child is likely to act in |
| control certain childhood behaviors. | | | | that situation (draw a hypothesis) and then thirdly, |
| A child development specialist understands the | | | | that hypothesis is put to the test through various |
| sequence a child will follow in his development in | | | | research procedures. In child development, this is |
| terms of ages and stages. They are aware of | | | | typically done through naturalistic observation, |
| the milestones a child is expected to reach, and | | | | interviews and case studies. |
| the sequence and the time frame the children are | | | | The fourth step in the scientific research method |
| expected to reach them. | | | | is to draw a conclusion based on the test results, |
| A child development specialist not only describes | | | | and the fifth step is to publish the results so that |
| how children grow and develop, they also attempt | | | | others may learn from your findings. |
| to explain why certain behaviors take place. There | | | | Information provided by a child development |
| are three basic explanations for why a child | | | | specialist can reassure parents that their child is |
| behaves in a certain manner. Biological explanations | | | | developing at a normal rate. It is also an excellent |
| refer to the genetic makeup of the child and the | | | | indicator of abnormal growth and development |
| physical maturation of the child. Psychological | | | | patterns and can pinpoint factors; whether they |
| explanations focus on a child's personality and take | | | | be biological, psychological or social, that are |
| into account their wants, needs, motivations and | | | | responsible for a delay in growth and |
| desires. Social explanations take into consideration | | | | development. |
| the effect a child's environment has on them. | | | | The more we are able to understand child growth |
| A child development specialist can evaluate a child, | | | | and development the better we will be able to |
| and describe and explain their behavior, and then | | | | understand our children. It is a tool that allows us |
| compare this information with information about | | | | to guide them in a healthy direction through their |
| most other children their age. This is a way of | | | | physical, social, cognitive and emotional growth. |