Choose one of the six principles of development. Explain the principle and provide an example of a child that illustrates the principle

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The six principles of development are:
a. The child develops as a whole. Cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development are interconnected and influence one another.
b. Development follows predictable patterns. It progresses in a sequential and cumulative fashion such that children must master simpler tasks before more complex or difficult skills and concepts can be acquired.
c. Rates of development vary. Although the sequence of development is the same for all children, each child will develop at his or her own rate. We can only approximate when children can typically be expected to reach different stages of development.
d. Development is influenced by maturation and experience. How a child develops reflects interplay of hereditary or genetic potential and the child's experiences, or interactions with people and things in the environment.
e. Development proceeds from top down and from center outward. Physical development takes place from the top (or child's head) down to the feet. This is known as the cephalocaudal pattern. It also progresses from the center of the body outwards towards the limbs in what is referred to as the proximodistal pattern.
f. Culture affects development. The culture of the child is influenced by the culture in which they live and grow. The culture determines what kinds of experiences and opportunities will be available to the child.
For examples of how these could be illustrated, see the appropriate vignettes shared under each principle in the text.