Module 01: Introduction to

Child Psychology

Student Objectives:
To understand what you will learn in this course
To learn the definition of child psychology
To learn about the theories of child psychologists
To understand the importance of recognizing abnormal
behavior
To learn how physical issues can seem like abnormal
behavior

1.1 Introduction

During childhood, there is a rapid

development of the mind and body.

This module, Introduction to Child Psychology, will give a

full introduction to the study of child psychology, and as you
work through the material, you will obtain a much deeper
understanding of how psychologists work with children to
improve their psychological states.

Within this course, you will get a brief introduction to the

way a child’s brain develops and the theories that have been
invented to help us explain all that occurs. By putting a
focus on the child, you will also learn how psychologists can
look at the changes in a child’s ability over time, including
how their social, physical, cognitive, and emotional
development occurs. There is additional emphasis on how the
development of a child’s psychological state is shaped through
influences, such as their environment and culture. You will
also learn more about the role of a child psychologist, and
how they work with other medical professionals to improve the
lives of children and their families.

1.2 What is Child Psychology?

Child psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses
specifically on children and teens.

This is a very broad focus area, and it covers how a person

mentally and psychologically grows and develops from birth to
adolescence. One of the biggest questions that child
psychologists attempt to answer is the question of nature
versus nurture. In fact, this is such a big question that we
include a full module on this topic later in the course.

Since the study of child psychology is so vast and attempts to

answer many questions, practitioners tend to focus on a
specific area of the industry. These fall into either physical
development, social/emotional development, or cognitive
development.
However, all child psychologists try to make sense of every
aspect of the child’s brain development, including how a child
thinks, learns, interacts, and responds to those around them.
They will also look at how a child understands emotions, how
they make friends, and how they develop personalities.

Child psychologists will also measure the success, or lack

thereof, of treatment by looking at the developmental
milestones that children have. This is important as these
milestones reflect the abilities of these children, such as
talking, and can be compared to other children of their age.
1.3 Theories of Child Psychologists

There are many theories that child

psychologists study, and many of these
theories will be discussed throughout this
course.

Like all of the science fields, child psychology is filled

with many perspectives and multiple theories, which have
shaped how we view the development of the brain, both mentally
and physically.

What is Considered “Normal”?

One of the things that child psychologists must do is
determine what “normal” is for a typical child. For the most
part, children often have the same innate instincts regardless
of where they are raised. For example, a child quickly becomes
attached to those who care for them, will begin to sit up
around six months of age, and often begins walking by the time
they are a year old. All of these are considered to be normal
developmental milestones, which is what child psychology is
primarily based on.

Parents tend to be on the lookout for the typical milestones

that all children must reach (i.e., sitting, walking, and
talking). If children do not meet these essential milestones
or show signs of falling behind, then parents must discuss
further with their pediatrician.
Their doctors and others inform most parents regarding markers
that children should meet, which identifies healthy growth.
Similarly, parents are informed by family members, friends,
and teachers when to seek a medical professional’s opinion on
a child’s development.

This is where a child psychologist might step in to help.

Generally, the earlier a parent seeks out assistance, the
easier it is for the child to thrive. Some parents might find
that their child is simply a bit slower at developmental
progression, something that is often not worrisome to the
experts. However, other children may have a more severe issue
that calls for extra attention.

The Difference Between Normal and Abnormal

When development does not follow a “normal” path as identified
by medical professionals, it is known as “abnormal”
development. Though it is referred to as abnormal, in most
cases, it is essential to remember that it might be due to
things that are not, in fact, abnormal.

For instance
Emotional disorders, learning disabilities, and behavioral
issues might all present challenges, but a child who has these
impairments is not necessarily “abnormal.” Sometimes, for
instance, these issues might develop due to environmental
change, such as divorce, death, or other traumatic events.
These events might cause misbehavior, mood changes, or
anxiety, but it does not mean that the development of the
child is abnormal.

As you learn more about how child development and psychology

works, it is best to avoid creating any black and white
categories based on what is normal and what is not. Though it
is natural for us to create these labels, it can be dangerous
to place a label too quickly. Though a label allows us to give
a name or an identity to a behavior, every child is unique and
full of individual traits, experiences, and abilities.

FACT
Child psychology focuses on how an individual develops, both
mentally and psychologically, from birth to late adolescence.
Since it is such a large area of study, most psychologists
will specialize in different areas of the field.

Source: CPD

1.4 Recognising Potential Issues

By understanding abnormal development,

people who have children or work with
children, such as parents, doctors, and
teachers, should be able to recognize
potential problems.

This is important as early detection equals early

intervention. The sooner a child with a developmental issue
receives intervention for the issue at hand, the better the
future outcome will be.

Issues with Physical Development

When people only focus on the developmental issues that relate
to behavioral or psychological issues, they will often find
that these physical problems will also affect development.

For instance

In addition to a chronic illness, a child might be born with a

birth defect, which can impact their ability to achieve
milestones. Some of these might be present when the child is
born, but others might only be noticed when the child matures.
Caregivers should always be on alert for issues that will make
milestones, such as walking, crawling, sleeping, and eating,
slower to develop.

Learning and Development

Learning is one of the major events in a child’s life, and
through schooling is an obvious source of learning, it does
not always take place in an academic setting. From the first
second of life, a child is undergoing a process of learning
that never stops. This will have a dramatic impact on the
child’s life and will affect how the child feels, thinks, and
acts.

Generally, learning is one of the most important aspects of

the development of a child, which is why parents and teachers
must know how to spot any issues.
Learning disabilities are one part of it, but there are also a
number of psychological disorders that appear in childhood
that might be a contributing factor. In some cases, it will be
easy to spot these conditions, but in others, parents and
teachers might dismiss it as something else entirely. Delayed
speech, poor attention span, and the late development of motor
skills might appear as simply being a minor issue, but they
could also be a sign of a more serious psychological issue.
1.5 Learning About Child Psychology

Studying child psychology can help you understand what is

normal and what is not, but it also helps you to understand
how to use this information in a way to help the child.

At the heart of studying child, psychology is the need for a

proper assessment, intervention, and ultimately treatment when
a problem arises. Doctors, teachers, psychologists, and
counselors will know the best way to help a child who is
facing a specific psychological challenge.

Caregivers who have taken the time to learn about normal

development, and who are tuned into abnormal behavior, are the
best to pick up on issues and seek out the help that their
children need. In most cases, the first step is to reach out
to a pediatrician or family doctor, but in other cases, a
school counselor or psychologist might also help.

It doesn’t matter what the situation is, communication is

important and is the key to finding a diagnosis and creating
an effective treatment. Parents should be able to share any
relevant information with medical professionals, and educators
should be prompt when alerting a child’s parents of issues
that a child might be experiencing.

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Conclusion
You might be studying this course as a parent who wants to get
more information about your own child, or you might be a
teacher who is seeking out a way to interact with your
students. Alternatively, you might still be a student yourself
and considering a career in child psychology, or you might
simply be interested in the concept. The goal of this course
is to give you a good overview of this field, and it will go
in-depth to explain the concepts, theories, conditions, and
practice of those who work in the child psychology field.

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