The first chapter of the book explores the child development field, core developmental issues in children, child development theories, developmental periods, and the aspect of turning theory into practice. Human beings are not static. A continuous phase of psychological and physical transformation is experienced from the point of conception until adulthood. Three key factors control the developmental phase of a child.
These include personal activity, nurture, and nature (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013). The transition from childhood to the adolescent stage is characterized by three key issues namely the qualitative and quantitative transformation, genetic development as well as nature and nature. The significant changes experienced by adolescents and children have been thoughtfully explained by developmentalism in education.
In the second chapter, the authors explore some of the basic principles of research required in the analysis of childhood development. The authors observe that strong ethical standards should be adhered to when researching with children (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013). This type of research also needs to be guided by strong professional standards. There is great access to children and adolescents who can supply the required information.
How researchers integrate these principles into their investigations depends on the kinds of methods they use. Several data collection and analysis methods have also been discussed in the chapter. Examples include observations, psychological measures, questionnaires, and interviews. In the course of researching learning institutions, caregivers and teachers can be used to provide the most accurate and reliable data.
Chapter three offers an incisive look at the child’s development cradle, types of family structures and processes as well as the communal life with children (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013). The development of a child is remarkably affected by the nature of the community and family cultures. The nature of relationships fostered by children with other people is also dictated by the family and community standards. Besides, family structures play an integral role in shaping the overall character of a child in the course of growth and development. Relationship building within families can be enhanced by parents and guardians.
From the above chapter summaries, it can be visualized that the overall character of a child is influenced by the immediate environment. Besides, nature also plays a crucial role in building a child’s character. After going through the three chapters, it is pertinent to mention that parents play a key role in character development. When a biblical world view is related to the three chapters, it can be concluded that the moral input found in children is largely contributed by parents. Therefore, they are supposed to demonstrate a high degree of emotional and spiritual engagement when bringing up their children.
I have personally witnessed families that go through difficult times and are consequently unable to foster peace. For example, parents who clash in the presence of their children are likely to derail the character of such young minds. Parental differences should never be allowed to infiltrate children. In most instances, children tend to ape their daily experiences in life. Worse still, they put everything into practice.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that nurture has a more powerful and influential role to play in the psychological development of children. As much as the genetic factor affects the most intrinsic personal characteristics, the overall upbringing of a child is instrumental in character development. Needless to say, most development theories are emphatic that how children are nurtured determines their net worth in terms of personality strengths.
Reference
McDevitt, T. M., & Ormrod, J. E. (2013). Child development and education (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Pearson.