An Overview of

Child Development
DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES; DEVELOPMENT AND
EDUCATION

Developmental Issues
1.

Nature and Nurture

2. Continuity and
Discontinuity
3. Early and Later
Experience

1. NATURE and NURTURE

ISSUE
The issue regarding whether
development is influenced
primarily by NATURE (an
organisms biological
inheritance) or by NURTURE
(an organisms environmental
experiences).

2. CONTINUITY and
DISCONTINUITY ISSUE
The

issue regarding whether

development involves
gradual, cumulative change
(Continuity) or distinct stages
(Discontinuity).

3. EARLY and LATER

EXPERIENCE ISSUE
The

issue of the degree to

which early experiences (esp.
infancy) or later experiences
are the key determinants of
the childs development.

Development and Education

To what extent are early

experiences such as
those involving
relationships with
parents likely to be
linked to later
development, such as
success in school?

Developmentally appropriate
teaching:

takes place at a level that is

neither too difficult and stressful
nor too easy and boring for the
childs developmental level.
-

Splintered Development
Refers

to the circumstances in
which development is uneven
across domains.