Assessment Task 1: Child Development Report - [University Name]

This report delves into the multifaceted aspects of child development, addressing key areas such as physical and motor skills, social and emotional growth, cognitive processes, and language acquisition. It explores the relationship between cultural-historical and bio-ecological theories, highlighting their interconnectedness in shaping a child's development. The report examines the intertwined nature of social and emotional development, emphasizing how these domains influence each other. It discusses current understandings of cognitive development, including the acquisition of knowledge and problem-solving skills, and analyzes the various influences on language acquisition, such as environmental factors and gender. The report is based on the provided reading material, offering a comprehensive overview of child development from infancy through early childhood.

Understanding Early
Childhood
Development

Contents
How are cultural-historical and bio-ecological theories of child development
related?......................................................................................................................3
Explain children's physical and motor development in relation to infants and their
capabilities.................................................................................................................3
How are children's social and emotional development intertwined?........................3
Discuss current understandings about children's cognitive development.................4
Describe the many influences on children's language acquisition............................4
REFERENCES........................................................................................................5

How are cultural-historical and bio-ecological theories of child development
related?
Cultural Historical theories of child development are the one that simply mentions that
children and their development is related with the background and culture of family and society
that they gain with the development of brain that they gain while growing in the society. And
bio-ecological theories are the one which means that children acquire information which
ultimately leads to their brain development in a process. A process in which contexts are
important and children are at the centric of these contexts. There are many similarities that these
theories reflect. The most common, that can be noticed by anyone. Even from a layman’s
perspective is that they both deals with the development of children’s in a process. While
Cultural historical theory deals with that development which pertains to the background of
children. A background of information that they acquire from culture of family, behaviors of
adults in the family, educational background from school most probably. They all are much
influential as a child gain it in the early years of life and in a process of early child development.
Similarly, bio-ecological theories deal with entire sort of information that are acquired by
children in a process of development along with the age. These both theories need process in
development of children (Programming and Planning in Early Childhood Settings, 1993).
Explain children's physical and motor development in relation to infants and their
capabilities.
Physical and Motor developments of children mean the physical growth purely that
children attain in their early age of life. Physical development purely means the growth of
Muscle and Bones in children. This motor development is attained by children very fast in the
early years of life, mainly in the first five years of childhood. In this age many developments
take place like growth of Hand, Tongue, Wrists, Fingers, Feet and other similar body parts and
limbs. Hence, this can be understanding that early years of life are one of the most crucial years
of life. Under the physical development of early years of childhood, infants also acquire various
senses like touch and taste. These acquisition of senses also forms part of physical development
of children. Motor development of children happens in a sequence, it is sequential as it first starts
from development of inner body parts including the head, neck, and many other limbs and their
inner development. When an infant attains Motor development as early as possible. The chances
of other necessary development increases also quickly. This is because then only a child is able
to connect with physical environment of world. This is how Motor development supports
Cognitive and Social and Emotional development as well.
How are children's social and emotional development intertwined?
Social development of Children means the acquisition of those traits by children which
help them understand how the social order in the world works. When all other developments in
the child have taken place and a child learns to grow and connect with the physical environment
of the world, then only the infant is able to think and understand. Social development is a very
complex process of development and it also be described as the one development which takes
place very gradually, for next ten years of life as well after early age completion. When a child
grows to learn about the society and get related with its complexities as well, a sense of
confidence and emotional understanding is built in the child. One can mentally feel growing up

and not just physically (Arthur and et.al., 2017). This leads to emotional development of
children. Many other skills are seen coming along such as sympathy and empathy, compassion
and commotion, mutual understandings, ethics and many such traits that are only acquirable
through knowing people as much as possible. While social development is the one that happens
with interaction to outer world, it leads in bringing up emotional development. And when
emotional development is made in best way possible, it than improves social development. This
is how they both are intertwined.
Discuss current understandings about children's cognitive development.
Cognitive development of Children is the process that describes how children are seen
acquiring Cognitive skills of Knowledge, analysis, problem solving and many more. These skills
are most of the time reflective of the attitude that child has developed in all these years of
growing. The attitude of understanding towards the problem and how the one frames its
perception in a particular approach as well. To develop better attitude and a human being out of
the children, it is necessary that better cognitive skills are imparted to child, even if possible in a
targeted manner also. These skills are crucial in leading a golden life ahead. When such
cognitive skills in better way are imparted in the early life than a better future is ensured for sure.
Because, the learning in early life are reflected in attitude of child for rest of the life,
understanding in this age is weak and what learnt at this age last forever. In building a good
attitude and better cognitive skills it is important that quality activities and learnings should be
engaged with children on daily basis. It is then only qualities can be embedded in infant in a
manner which would be irrevocable for the rest of the life.
Describe the many influences on children's language acquisition.
Language forms the basis and form of communication in a person. The language is
helpful in establishing uninterrupted communication, listening, reading and writing skills of a
child. There many ways of acquiring traits of language in a person, some of them can be
acquired that needs sort of deliberation and some ways could be natural. Naturally acquired
language is the one that is learnt by surrounding in which the child grows. Language learnt by
child is reflective in him in many ways. Language skills are not only established by written and
verbal skills of child but also by the attitude and facial expression of children. Learning a
particular language, in this way, improves quality of life. In this way, there are many influences
on the learning of language by children (Sims, Waniganayake and Hadley, 2018). Besides, these
forms some common influence on language acquisition, there many more which are typical in
nature. Gender is the another basis of influence on language acquisition of a child. Girls are seen
learning language faster than boys. They start it learning at the age of two. Besides, health of
child is another factor as person with good health and mental ability seeks this development
without any obstacles.

REFERENCES
Online
Programming and Planning in Early Childhood Settings. 1993. [Online]. Available through: <
https://ebooks.cenreader.com/#!/reader/4b19759a-4dcf-46e4-af34-b8d6f487d8b4/page/page-
c90c9b4f-d883-4d01-acc9-ff2059e1d2c1>
Books and Journals
Arthur, L. and et.al., 2017. Programming and planning in early childhood settings. Cengage AU.
Sims, M., Waniganayake, M. and Hadley, D. F., 2018. Educational leadership: An evolving role
in Australian early childhood settings. Educational Management Administration &
Leadership. 46(6). pp.960-979.