Child Profile Report: Analyzing Harry's Development Aspects

This report presents a child profile of Harry, a 5-year-old autistic boy, analyzing his social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and linguistic development within the context of his family environment. The report critically examines the inter-relatedness of development and learning, highlighting the impact of his parents' habits and the importance of a supportive environment. It explores the significance of symbolic behavior in early learning, drawing on theoretical perspectives to explain how symbols aid in understanding concepts, especially for children with special needs like Harry. The report further emphasizes the necessity of providing diverse and culturally sensitive resources for children, ensuring they receive the support needed for holistic development. It highlights the importance of early intervention and appropriate care for children with autism, emphasizing the role of childcare homes in fostering positive development. The analysis includes insights into Piaget's stages of cognitive development and practical strategies to support Harry's learning and overall well-being.

Child Profile

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Information about observed child...........................................................................................1
Critically analyse significant aspects of a young child’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical
and linguistic development and develop arguments on the inter relatedness of development
and learning............................................................................................................................1
Identify the importance of symbolic behaviour in early learning and be able to draw on some
theoretical perspectives..........................................................................................................4
Demonstrate the importance of providing appropriate resources reflecting the diversity of
cultures and languages for the children with whom they will be working.............................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Child profile refers to a summarise information of the history, current functions and special need
of a child. It is responsible for assisting in order to determine connections and supports for the
child by reviewing past as well as present relationships (Moore, 2017). However, it includes
information about a child as a comprehensive summary in which their important details were
mentioned through a person can understand about character of the kid. This assignment is based
on child profile of Harry who is a 5 years old kid. In context of this essay, it will focus on
significant aspect of child development and respect arguments related to development &
learning. It will also include significance of symbolic behaviour in early learning and relevant
theoretical perspectives. The importance of providing essential resources reflecting diversity of
cultures and languages for children is given below.
MAIN BODY
Information about observed child
Harry is a 5 years old boy who born in a family having religion of Judaism lives in England. His
father is a businessman and mother is also working in corporate organisation. The family
environment is not so good because his parents had fight often and they have harmful habits
including excess alcohol and smoking. However, Harry’s father has a habit of excess alcohol sue
at night and fight with his mother whereas his mother is addict to alcohol and smoking. Harry
has two siblings i.e. one brother, John who is 4 years old and an elder sister, Oliver whose age is
10 years old. Harry is an autistic child and has special needs which are required to be carefully
addressed by support of his parents and tutors. A social worker observes the condition of Harry
and suggests his parents to send Harry to child care home where he will get proper education as
well as regular care properly. At the age of 5 years, Harry went to the child care home where he
get proper care and support which results into positive development of him.
Critically analyse significant aspects of a young child’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical and
linguistic development and develop arguments on the inter relatedness of development and
learning.
Child development is depending upon the atmosphere present in their surroundings and their
observation from early childhood (Keenan, Evans and Crowley, 2016). It can be considered as
changes occurring as a child have started to grow and develops in relation to become physically
1

and mentally wellbeing. Basically it is known to be a developing procedure which makes a child
physically healthy, mentally alert, emotionally sound, socially competent and ready to learn. It is
observed that a child have started copying actions done by their elders and acquire learning by
their own. Meanwhile, there are different types of developmental aspects that social, cognitive,
emotional, physical and linguistic to analyse development of children. In context of Harry, it has
been analysed that environment of his house is not appropriate because a child need healthy
atmosphere which helps them to learn various things. It is observed that an autistic child needs
extra care and support which is absent in Harry’s house due to which a social worker encourage
his parents to send him to childcare home for his betterment. However it has been analysed there
are number of aspect through which development Harry can be understand which are explained
here.
Social development includes that kids like play with other children in society as well as school
and pleasing their friends. It includes their action of sharing and takes turns among with
understanding rules of games that happens most of the time (Sampson, 2017). However, it
consist that they become more independent and can do small task of daily life by their own.
Now, if talking about Harry, he is an autistic child due to whom he is dependent on his parents or
care providers. It is observed that he has few of friends with whom he likes to play and talk but
not with every individual. He remain in his limited social area like if a person want to talk to him
and become his friends then they are required visit his residential area daily ad try to
communicate with him.
Emotional development involves the emotional side of them and they get attached with their
friends and feel bad when they cannot meet them for two or three days. It includes another side
of expressing anger when care providers or parents will not give them thing of their choice then
express anger. It is observed that 5 years old child mostly express their anger in verbal manner
rather than physical activities (Kim and Choi, 2014). As per case scenario of Harry, it is
observed that he is very peaceful child but show anger by expressions and communication. It has
been analysed that when he become angry from family member, friend or any other person then
he will not talk to then till they will say sorry to Harry and apologies to convince him.
Cognitive development contains the stage of child age when they become curious and
inquisitive about things and want to eagerly clarify them. It involves the energetic condition of
kids and remains silly, rowdy and obnoxious sometimes. However, they have an ability to
2

recognise few of letters and possible write their own name. Generally, kids of 5 years old age are
able to understand concept of time and daily activities like breakfast in morning, lunch in
afternoon and dinner at night. It is observed that they have a greater attention span and capable to
follow two or three commands like brush your teeth etc. They can recognise familiar words and
signs like STOP and remember their address & phone number if taught earlier. According to the
same of Harry, he need extra support and efforts of care workers and tutors to recognise own
name and address because of having problem of autism spectrum disorder. He can understand
things like normal children but it doesn’t happen due to negative atmosphere of the house and his
parents do not care much about him.
As per Piaget theory of chid development, it has been analysed that there are 4 stages of
cognitive development through which child development be understand in proper manner. It
includes several stages such as sensorimotor (birth to 2 years of age), preoperational (from age of
2 years to 7 years), concrete (from 7 years to 11 years of age) and formal operational stage
(Adolescence and adulthood). Initially, in sensorimotor stage is of object permanence which is
recognised by the child only (Graignic-Philippe and et. al., 2014). Secondly, it involves the
preoperational stage is that age duration when a child about things symbolically. Thirdly, it
involves the concrete operational stage they have started logical as well as operational thought.
However, the final stage is formal operational stage in which they have ability to abstract
concepts and logically test hypothesis.
Physical development includes the development of this age of 5 years when children are mostly
able to learn through playing games due to which teachers also used some creative things and
objects to teach them. It includes their ability to run, hop, throw, kick balls, climb and swim with
ease. This age is very interesting because power of grabbing easily is very strong in this stage. In
this age of life, a child can stand on single foot for a while, do somersault & hop, walk up &
down stairs, pedal a tricycle, copy figures like triangle, circle, and square & other shapes, use
fork & spoon etc (Hopkins, Geangu and Linkenauger, 2017). In context of Harry’s condition, it
has been analysed that he is weak physically as compared to normal kids due to having problem
of autism but recover with it by proper support of care providers. It can be said that physically
weak condition of Harry can be solved earlier if his parents provide proper care and support to
him by providing healthy environment of the house. It is very important for parents to render
proper atmosphere because it plays an important role overall development of an individual.
3

Harry can also draw shapes but consume more time than others and he was not able to draw clear
shapes.
Linguistic development involves ability of 5 year old child to make conversation in clear way
as their vocabulary is growing. It includes their skill of speaking complex sentences more clearly
and count ten or more objects. However, they can name at least three shapes and four colours
along with recognising letters as well as write them. In case of Harry, he is able to clearly make
conversation but speak slowly to express this thoughts and feelings verbally.
Identify the importance of symbolic behaviour in early learning and be able to draw on some
theoretical perspectives.
Symbolic behaviour can be defined as an encoding procedure in which items or actions are
utilised to represent something different. It is observed that people use gestures, postures, signs
etc. in order to express their thoughts and feelings to others. Meanwhile, it has been analysed that
symbolic behaviour is beneficial to deliver effective learning among children earlier. It includes
the way of providing learning with the help of symbols that is easily make kids learn about
desired concepts and theories (Kingston and Tough, 2014). However, it is helpful for tutors to
utilise the symbols to make their teaching more effective to make students concepts in proper
manner. It is observed that Harry is not able to understand the theoretical concepts verbally then
his tutors utilise actions and symbols to clarify theories and concepts to them. It is favourable for
him to learn easily and tutors can fulfil his special needs of education by using symbols to
educating him.
Symbolic behaviours play an important role in terms of providing effective learning during early
childhood. It is beneficial to develop interest of students in studies which impact positively in
their studies as well as grabbing power. It is observed that Harry feel interested to study when his
tutors use objects to make him learn about counting and teaching them about different colours by
using objects. It is favourable to make children easily recognise educational concepts. However,
it is observed that it is beneficial to reduce pressure of studies and kids can learn in desired
theories by playing games (Lindon and Brodie, 2016). However, it has been analysed that
activity of storytelling and using images are helpful to make an individual educated in proper
manner. It involves the method of using flowers and fruits to make kids learn about them by their
names. It can be consider as an easy method by which concepts become clear as well as they cm
4

easily recognise the same. Moreover, it is essential to relive stress from minds of kids and
remove burden of studies by making covering all the educational concepts easily.
In addition to this, the symbolic behaviour is important as it is suitable to boost up brain function
of students which is beneficial for future studies. It will provide support develop brain of kids
and especially in case of Harry, it is beneficial for him so that he can grab new concepts easily.
Basically, it is necessary to effort more for providing learning to autistic children but the
symbolic behaviour is favourable to make easy learning for them. This technique is important
because it is beneficial in respect of stimulating the mind as well as boot creativity. Basically, it
involves the significance of enhancing the relationships and connects to others which are very
necessary in context of Harry because such kids cannot easily link up with other people.
Meanwhile, it has been analysed that symbolic behaviour is favourable to make students and
tutors felling young and energetic all the time. Moreover, using symbols, objects and plays are
helpful to develop and improve social skills along establishing cooperation with each other.
However, it is also favourable in order to heal emotional wounds by overcome with them easily
(Masten, 2015). Furthermore, it is observed that better use of symbols and actions are important
to maintain freshness on faces of kids’ whole day and they remain energetic which is beneficial
for proper health of them. It will keep functional when under stress and develop teamwork skills
among children along with increasing energy level as well as preventing the burnout accordingly.
This symbolic behaviour is responsible for triggering creativity and innovation along with
providing support to develop new ways to solve issues of daily life.
Demonstrate the importance of providing appropriate resources reflecting the diversity of
cultures and languages for the children with whom they will be working.
The resources are main factor through which effective learning can be delivered to children and
special resources are required for addressing specific need of autistic children like Harry. It
includes that when a child interact with people of diverse cultures then they learn from them
also. It is beneficial to focus on carrying out interaction between children belongs to different
cultures and languages which helps them to acquire skills of each other. However, it is observed
that children can learn other language and new ways from peers while working on same task of
learning. It has been analysed that individuals belongs from different cultures has differentiated
way of thinking that develop creative ideas and they exchange their ideas with one another. It
will provide support to boost up their knowledge level, skills and thinking level that is favourable
5

for future career. The interaction with people of other religions and cultures has a risk of
developing conflicts but if the situation of learning will managed by tutors properly then it will
create opportunity to enhance ability of cooperation as well as teamwork. Lit will provide
support in future to students like Harry to easily execute task in team with effective coordination
and successfully complete the same.
On the other hand, it has been demonstrated that desired resources should be available in
educational institute so that students can learn concepts on proper way. It includes the
availability of technological equipment (Dexter and Stacks, 2014). Machines and software which
are mostly important for Autistic children like Harry. It is observed that if Harry study with the
help of technical equipment then he will grab theories and concepts more easily in clear manner.
In addition to this, it is observed that Harry is capable to learn easily when his teachers utilise
objects like boxes for counting and different shape of things to teach about shapes respectively. It
is analysed that autistic children are not able to grab concepts of studies because verbal teaching
is not sufficient for them.
CONCLUSION
From the above essay, it has been concluded that child profile assist to determine connections
and supports for the child by reviewing past as well as present relationships. It includes the
developing aspects of social, cognitive, physical, linguistic and emotional development of
children. However, it involves the use of proper resources and symbolic behaviour to deliver
appropriate learning.
6

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Moore, R.C., 2017. Childhood's domain: Play and place in child development (Vol. 6).
Routledge.
Keenan, T., Evans, S. and Crowley, K., 2016. An introduction to child development. Sage.
Sampson, R.J., 2017. Family management and child development: Insights from social
disorganization theory. In Facts, frameworks, and forecasts (pp. 63-94). Routledge.
Kim, U. and Choi, S.H., 2014. Individualism, collectivism, and child development: A Korean
perspective. In Cross-cultural roots of minority child development (pp. 227-258).
Psychology Press.
Graignic-Philippe, R. and et. al., 2014. Effects of prenatal stress on fetal and child development:
a critical literature review. Neuroscience & biobehavioral reviews, 43, pp.137-162.
Hopkins, B., Geangu, E. and Linkenauger, S. eds., 2017. The Cambridge encyclopedia of child
development. Cambridge University Press.
Kingston, D. and Tough, S., 2014. Prenatal and postnatal maternal mental health and school-age
child development: a systematic review. Maternal and child health journal, 18(7),
pp.1728-1741.
Lindon, J. and Brodie, K., 2016. Understanding Child Development 0-8 Years 4th Edition:
Linking Theory and Practice. Hachette UK.
Masten, A.S., 2015. Ordinary magic: Resilience in development. Guilford Publications.
Dexter, C.A. and Stacks, A.M., 2014. A preliminary investigation of the relationship between
parenting, parent-child shared reading practices, and child development in low-income
families. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 28(3), pp.394-410.
7