Course

Growth and Development: Infants and Toddlers (Introduction)

Faculty
Applied Community Studies
Department
Early Childhood Education
Course code
ECED 1100
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 weeks Flexible delivery ranging over 1 to 15 weeks
Max class size
30
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Typically offered
Fall

Overview

Course description
Students will explore theories related to the development of infants and toddlers in the context of a family-centred approach which emphasizes individual and cultural diversity. Students will take a whole child approach to their studies of infants and toddlers in family and group settings.
Course content

The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:

  1. Infant and toddler development is studied from a ‘whole child’ perspective, which includes emotional, social, physical, cognitive and language.
  2. Heredity and environment are critical factors which affect the growth and development of the child.
  3. Prenatal development is a critical factor in the overall development of the child.
  4. The birth of the child is a critical period affecting the child’s growth and development.
  5. There is a reciprocal relationship between the child’s growth and development and the family and culture in which the child is reared.
  6. Individual differences, including special needs, are important issues when considering the development of a child.
  7. There are observable behaviours typical of infant and toddler development.
  8. Play is the medium through which children learn and develop.
Learning activities
  • Lecture
  • Discussions
  • Observations of children
Means of assessment

This course will conform to Douglas College policy regarding the number and weighting of evaluations.

  1. Collaborative learning
  2. Examinations
  3. Observation assignments
  4. Participation
  5. Attendance
Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • Introduce students to several theories used to interpret infant and toddler growth and development
  • Introduce the concept of human development beginning in utero (prenatal development)
  • Examine the roles of heredity and environment in the growth and development of the child
  • Examine the impact that prenatal conditions have on the development of the child
  • Introduce the concept of birth as a ‘critical period’ in the life of the family
  • Examine the birth process as it affects a child’s growth and development
  • Understand how individual differences, including special needs, relate to development of the child and impact on the family
  • Examine the reciprocal relationship between the child’s growth and development and the family and culture in which he or she is reared
  • Discuss issues of gender and cultural diversity as they relate to infant and toddler development
  • Familiarize students with the observable behaviours that are typically found in infant and toddler development.
Textbook materials

T.B.A.

Requisites

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses.

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for ECED 1100
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) No credit
Simon Fraser University (SFU) No credit
Trinity Western University (TWU) No credit
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV ECE 100 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) No credit

Course Offerings

Winter 2025