PSY 220 Child Development Birth-5 years

The course will focus on theories of attachment, theories of childhood, and developmental touch points essential in learning about children. This knowledge allows child care professionals to establish nurturing environments conducive to meeting the individual needs of children and families while being respectful and cognizant of family preference and cultural frameworks. This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to explore, reflect, and build a theoretical grounding in child development. Students will have numerous opportunities to link theory to practice, with a focus on hands-on learning. Students are encouraged to question, reflect, and integrate their experiences and readings while they learn from each other through small group brainstorming, problem solving, and discussions. This course requires students to complete 120 hours of supervised work experience in a child care setting, over and above the in-class experience. Prerequisite(s): Permission of Department

PSY 221 Observing & Recording Development of the Young Child

This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to explore, reflect on, and apply the theoretical grounding gained in Child Development Birth - 5 years. The course will focus on presenting a unique system for observing and recording development of children ages Birth to 5 years in early-childhood classroom settings. The system is based on a progression of children's skill development in six major areas: emotional development, social development, physical development, cognitive development, language development, and creative development. Students will not only explore how to observe, record, and interpret development of children Birth through 5 years of age, but also have opportunities to discuss what these children are like and how to support them in their development with exciting hands-on activities. Students will identify ways to connect their observations to making individual learning plans, assessment of individual children for program development, and developing classroom activities that are developmentally appropriate for young children. Students will have numerous opportunities to link theory to practice, with a focus on hands-on learning. Students are encouraged to question, reflect, and integrate their experiences and readings while they learn from each other through small group brainstorming, problem solving, and discussions.This course requires students to complete 120 hours of supervised work experience in a child care setting above and beyond the in-class experience. This course is designed to be taken simultaneous with PSY 220. However, a student may take PSY 220 first; and PSY 221 after, PSY 220 must be passed with a C grade or higher, and can be either be a pre- or co-requisite. Corequisite(s): PSY 220

PSY 222 Early Childhood Learning Environments

This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to explore, reflect, and build upon the theoretical grounding gained in the Child Development course. The course will focus on establishing and_ maintaining a safe, healthy, learning environment through the examination of each child's physical, cognitive, language, creative, self, social, and emotional development, and their impact on child guidance practices. Students will have numerous opportunities to link theory to practice, with a focus on developing safe learning environments; creation of good health and nutrition practices; development of environments that encourage growth, creativity, curiosity and learning. Students are encouraged to question, reflect, and integrate their experiences and readings while they learn from each other through small group brainstorming, problem solving, and discussions. This course requires students to complete 120 hours of supervised work experience in a child care setting, above and beyond the in-class experience. Prerequisite(s): PSY 221 with a grade of C or higher

PSY 223 The Childcare Professional and Family Dynamics

The course will focus on establishing positive and productive partnerships with families, ensuring a well-run, purposeful program responsive to participant needs, and maintaining a commitment to professionalism. Special attention will be given to making connections when working with diverse families and communities, as well as children with special needs. Students will learn about establishing and maintaining high-quality childcare programs and how to assess and support the families of young children. This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to explore, reflect, and build upon their belief and view of early childhood professionals within the field as well as within society. Students will have numerous opportunities to link theory to practice, with a focus on hands-on learning. Students are encouraged to question, reflect, and integrate their experiences and readings while they learn from each other through small group brainstorming, problem solving, and discussions. This course requires students to complete 120 hours of supervised work experience in a child care setting above and beyond the in-class experience. Prerequisite(s): PSY 221 with a grade of C or higher