Child Development and Learning
Expert-defined terms from the Professional Certificate in School Readiness course at London School of Business and Administration. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Child Development and Learning Glossary #
Child Development and Learning Glossary
Active Learning #
A method of learning in which children engage in hands-on activities, participate in discussions, and solve problems, rather than passively receiving information.
Attachment #
The emotional bond that forms between a child and their primary caregiver, which is crucial for healthy development.
Behaviorism #
A psychological theory that focuses on observable behaviors and how they are learned through conditioning and reinforcement.
Child #
Directed Play: Play activities that are led by the child's interests and choices, allowing them to explore and learn in a self-directed manner.
Cognitive Development #
The process of acquiring knowledge, understanding, and thinking skills, including memory, problem-solving, and language development.
Constructivism #
A theory of learning that emphasizes the importance of active participation, social interaction, and hands-on experiences in constructing knowledge.
Developmental Milestones #
Key skills and behaviors that most children reach at specific ages, such as sitting up, crawling, walking, and talking.
Diversity #
The presence of individual differences in race, culture, language, abilities, and backgrounds among children, which should be respected and celebrated.
Early Childhood Education #
Programs and activities designed to support the development and learning of young children, typically from birth to age eight.
Emotional Development #
The process of understanding and managing emotions, building positive relationships, and developing empathy and social skills.
Empathy #
The ability to understand and share the feelings of others, which is an important skill for building positive relationships and social connections.
Executive Function #
Cognitive processes that help children regulate their behavior, make decisions, plan and organize tasks, and solve problems.
Fine Motor Skills #
The coordination of small muscles in the hands and fingers to perform tasks like grasping objects, drawing, writing, and using scissors.
Gross Motor Skills #
The coordination of large muscles in the body to perform movements like walking, running, jumping, and climbing.
Inclusive Education #
The practice of providing all children, regardless of ability or background, with access to high-quality education and support services.
Language Development #
The process of learning to communicate through spoken language, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
Learning Environment #
The physical, social, and emotional setting in which learning takes place, including the classroom, materials, routines, and interactions.
Learning Styles #
Individual preferences and strengths in how children best learn and process information, such as visual, auditory, kinesthetic, or tactile learning.
Play #
Based Learning: An approach to education that uses play as the primary method for promoting children's development and learning across all domains.
Positive Discipline #
A proactive and respectful approach to guiding children's behavior through teaching, modeling, and setting clear expectations.
Scaffolding #
Providing temporary support and guidance to help children learn new skills or concepts, gradually fading as they gain independence.
Social Development #
The process of learning to interact with others, form relationships, cooperate, and resolve conflicts in a positive and respectful manner.
Socioemotional Development #
The integration of social and emotional skills, including self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and effective communication.
Stages of Play #
The progression of play behaviors that children go through, from solitary play to parallel play, associative play, and cooperative play.
STEM Education #
An interdisciplinary approach to learning that integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts to promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Teacher #
Child Relationship: The bond and interactions between a teacher and a child, which can greatly influence the child's development, learning, and well-being.
Theories of Child Development #
Frameworks that explain how children grow, learn, and change over time, such as Piaget's theory of cognitive development and Vygotsky's sociocultural theory.
Visual Perceptual Skills #
The ability to interpret and make sense of visual information, including visual discrimination, visual memory, spatial relations, and visual closure.
Zone of Proximal Development #
The range of tasks that a child can perform with the help of a more knowledgeable other, such as a teacher or peer, to support learning and development.