Case Study: Child Development and Gender Differences for Educators

This case study examines child development, specifically focusing on gender differences and the challenges associated with puberty in 10-12 year olds. The study analyzes the experiences of Thomas, an 11-year-old boy facing height concerns, and Ella, a 5th-grade girl dealing with the onset of menstruation. The report highlights the importance of understanding these developmental stages and providing appropriate support. It addresses the stresses related to puberty and suggests steps educators can take to help students navigate these changes, including providing guidance, education about body changes, and creating supportive classroom environments. The case study references relevant literature on child development, gender differences, and the role of educators in supporting students during this critical period.

Case Study - Child development
for Educators

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Case Study 1: Gender Differences in Development........................................................................1
1. Consider the experiences of Thomas and Ella and the relevance of these experiences for 10-
12 year old children.....................................................................................................................1
2. Provisions for stresses associated with the early stages of puberty........................................2
3. Steps taken to help the students like Ella and Thomas or will they come out this problem
easily...........................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION
Child development go through different stages and incorporates biological, psychological
and emotional changes. This period remains form the time of birth till the end of adolescence.
Other than this, with the use of parental training or other other factors can promote child
development (Milteer, Ginsburg and Mulligan, 2012). Basically it is a continuous process define
predictable sequence having specific course for child. In this, parents play vital role in child
development and their life as well by providing them quality of their care. Along with this, it is
important to effectively understand cognitive, emotional and educational development of
children. Present report is based on different case studies about the child development.
Case Study 1: Gender Differences in Development
1. Consider the experiences of Thomas and Ella and the relevance of these experiences for 10-12
year old children.
The present case study is highlighting the gender differences in height and weight of
children of around 10-12 years of age. According to the case study, it can be depicted that
Thomas; an 11 year old boy is having short height problem. He is also among the smallest
students in its class. He is also having a small brother who is 9 years old but the height of both
brothers is nearly same. This factor has also brought inferiority complex in the mind of Thomas
but to overcome this, he has found a way and that is cracking jokes in class or speaking in loud
volume so that he can be noticed as well. Thomas has also joined karate classes along with his
best friend Harry so that they can become more powerful.
Another personality discussed here is of Ella who is studying in 5th class and is also the
tallest girl in her class. She is very self-conscious and takes care of herself very well. But since
there are various kinds of complications a girl has to go through while at a growing age so Ella
was facing the same. The incident that happened with her related to menstruation was very
embarrassing and her mother also didn't allow her to come to school during these days. Ella is
also frustrated with all this and wants to leave the school forever (Tabors and Patton, 2014).
Normally, children under this age face these kinds of problems as they face various
kinds of developments inside their body. From a research conducted, it was known that from age
three, girls spend most of their time in working while boys spend more of their time for play so
their body development also happens in different manner. So, it is not a big issue and both
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Thomas and Ella should give some time to this or their parents should provide them good
counselling associated with this.
2. Provisions for stresses associated with the early stages of puberty.
Puberty can be defined as the stage in which significant changes in the body of every
individuals. When these kinds of changes happens in a person, they go through a shocking period
as they do not know what is happening to them. It gives a feeling of stress as well as
embarrassment to the individuals and they stop meeting people as well (Rush and Shelden,
2011).
Teachers are required to provide good guidance to the students and make them
understand that it is now a part of their life and it happens with each and every person. IN case of
Thomas, he is not growing so this is giving him the stress and because of this only he is not able
to get mixed with people of his age. In case of Ella, she has faced menstruation for the first time
and she was very shocked by this. It is obvious that every girl will go into shock if something
likes this happens with them for the first time. So, these kinds of stress happens to an individual
when they are their in their early stages of puberty.
3. Steps taken to help the students like Ella and Thomas or will they come out this problem
easily.
Both Ella and Thomas are under huge stress and it is very necessary for them to come out
of this stressful situation in an effective manner because then only they will be able to live their
life in an effective manner (Shuler, Levine and Ree, 2012). There are various kinds of steps
which will be taken to bring both of them out of this problem:
 They will be proper guidance provided to them when they will feel them and through
help of which the individuals become mature as well.
 They will make them understand about this is changes in body in advance only so that if
it happens then the people will be ready to face such kind of changes happening inside
their body.
 School should also provide special classes in which they will teach students about all the
kinds of changes and dealing with them in a proper manner.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Milteer, R. M., Ginsburg, K. R., & Mulligan, D. A. (2012). The importance of play in promoting
healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bond: Focus on children
in poverty. Pediatrics. 129(1). e204-e213.
Tabors, P. O., & Patton, O. (2014). One Child, Two Languages: A Guide for Early Childhood
Educators of Children Learning English as a Second Language. Education
Review//Reseñas Educativas.
Rush, D. D., & Shelden, M. L. L. (2011). The Early Childhood Coaching Handbook. Brookes
Publishing Company. PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285.
Shuler, C., Levine, Z., & Ree, J. (2012). iLearn II An analysis of the education category of
Apple’s app store.
Wittmer, D. S., Petersen, S. H., & Puckett, M. B. (2013). The young child: Development from
prebirth through age eight. New York: Pearson.
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