PSY 210: Child Psychology and Development

In this section you will learn about the many ways parents and caregivers can help children get off to a good start and establish healthy patterns for life-long learning.

Our mission is simple: We are a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and well-being of children from conception to age three in Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. We are researchers, strategists, practitioners, parents, and community members dedicated to turning knowledge and research into measurable change.

This bulletin provides basic information on brain development and the effects of abuse and neglect on that development. The information is designed to help professionals understand the emotional, mental, and behavioral impact of early abuse and neglect in children who come to the attention of the child welfare system.

Let's Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a catalyst for children's health. We work with schools, companies, community organizations, healthcare professionals and families to transform the conditions and systems that lead to healthier kids. Our goal is to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity and to empower kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits. Founded by the American Heart Association and Clinton Foundation, we are collaborative change-makers working to create a nation where children thrive. We collaborate with and empower people and leaders to transform the environments that can make a difference in a child's health: homes, schools, doctor's offices and communities.

The work of Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934) has become the foundation of much research and theory in cognitive development over the past several decades, particularly of what has become known as Social Development Theory.

Piaget was the first psychologist to make a systematic study of cognitive development. His contributions include a theory of cognitive child development, detailed observational studies of cognition in children, and a series of simple but ingenious tests to reveal different cognitive abilities.

The resource provides an overview of the Information Processing Approach to Cognition.

Jerome Kagan describes his research on infant temperament.

This Early Childhood News article focuses on temperament, goodness of fit, and accommodating different temperaments.

This fact sheet from Ohio State University provides parents with information about temperament traits, temperament types, and principles to keep in mind when striving to achieve "goodness of fit".

We can all agree that meaningful schoolwork promotes students' learning of academic content. But why stop there? I believe that meaningful work can also teach students to love challenges, to enjoy effort, to be resilient, and to value their own improvement. In other words, we can design and present learning tasks in a way that helps students develop a growth mindset, which leads to not just short-term achievement but also long-term success.

Explores innovative educational ideas about goals and standards, instruction, learning, parent involvement, school-to-work transitions, and other topics.

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides professional development, advocates for individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.

Governmental site about the law ensuring educational services to students with disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. Infants and toddlers with disabilities (birth-2) and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. Children and youth (ages 3-21) receive special education and related services under IDEA Part B.

ED's mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. ED was created in 1980 by combining offices from several federal agencies. ED's 4,400 employees and $68 billion budget are dedicated to: Establishing policies on federal financial aid for education, and distributing as well as monitoring those funds. Collecting data on America's schools and disseminating research. Focusing national attention on key educational issues. Prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education.

Launched in 2007, ASCD's Whole Child Initiative is an effort to change the conversation about education from a focus on narrowly defined academic achievement to one that promotes the long term development and success of children. Through the initiative, ASCD helps educators, families, community members, and policymakers move from a vision about educating the whole child to sustainable, collaborative action. ASCD is joined in this effort by Whole Child Partner organizations representing the education, arts, health, policy, and community sectors.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the U.S. and other nations. NCES is located within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences. NCES fulfills a Congressional mandate to collect, collate, analyze, and report complete statistics on the condition of American education; conduct and publish reports; and review and report on education activities internationally.

NAME is a non-profit organization that advances and advocates for equity and social justice through multicultural education. Objectives: * To provide opportunities for learning in order to advance multicultural education, equity and social justice. * To proactively reframe public debate and impact current and emerging policies in ways that advance social, political, economic and educational equity through advocacy, position papers, policy statements and other strategies. * To provide the preeminent digital clearinghouse of resources about educational equity and social justice.

Provides educators, students, and activists resources and dialogues on equity, social justice, and multicultural education.