Child Development

Undergraduate

This course is first in a sequence including Theory and Practice of Early Childhood Education (CHLD1270) and Language Literacy and Play ( CHLD 1280 ). This course provides a theoretical base in child cognitive, social, and emotional development and tools to sensitively and carefully observe infants and young children. This course assumes it is not possible to understand children without understanding families and culture, and parent-child relationships. The course overview includes major theories in the field, focusing on the complex interaction between the developing self and the environment, exploring current research, theory, and practice. Students have the opportunity to see how programs for young children use psychodynamic and interactional theories to inform curriculum development. Students do two separate weekly observations over the course of the semester (3 hours total per week). They observe in a group setting for 2 hours each week at a Yale-affiliated childcare center. Students will also arrange a weekly 1-hour observation (in person or virtually) of a child under age 6. Students must make their own arrangements for these individual observations. If it is not possible to arrange a child to observe, please do not apply to take this course. Priority given to juniors, seniors, Ed Study students. WR , SO W 1:30pm-3:25pm