Child Development
Fridays 9am -12pm
Instructor: Darren Campbell, Duff Roblin, University of Manitoba.
Office Hour: Wednesdays 12 pm to 1 pm. Phone: 474-9528. Email:
dcampb@cc.umanitoba.ca. Other times are available by appointment. If you are unable to
reach me, leave a message with the psychology office staff at 474-9338.
Text Required: K. S. Berger & R. A. Thompson (1996). The Developing Person Through
Childhood. New York: Worth Publishers. (It comes as a package with its Study Guide).
Content: This course surveys normal physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development from
conception to late childhood including basic issues, major themes, and key theories. I will
present a sample of widely accepted empirical findings and describe age-related changes in a
variety of behaviours and characteristics. The course is not a course on parenting or
abnormal development. However, an understanding of normal development should provide
an important context for understanding child-rearing and clinical abnormalities.
Objectives: By the end of the course, all students should be able to: 1) distinguish among the
major theories of child development and identify their strengths and weaknesses, 2)
summarize the central developmental themes and issues, 3) comprehend, compare, and
apply the different developmental research methods, 4) recognize the key developmental
milestones from conception to late childhood, 5) relate age-dependent events and processes
to developmental theories and issues, and 6) begin to understand and appreciate their own
experiences with (and/or as) children in the context of developmental theories and issues.
Lectures: Material presented in class is intended to complement, elaborate, and clarify the
information in the text, and a substantial portion of lecture material is not in the text.
Anticipated lecture topics and assignments are listed by week below:
Week
Lecture Topics
Sep 05
Sep 12
Sep 19
Sep 26
Oct03
Oct10
Oct17
Oct24
Oct31
Nov07
Nov14
Nov21
Nov28
Dec 05
Overview of Themes & Issues; Methods
Theories of Development
Behavioural Genetics & Genetic Transmission
Prenatal Development; Birth
Exam 1, Film
First Two Years Biosocial & Cognitive Development
First Two Years Cognitive & Psychosocial
Play Years Biosocial & Cognitive Development
Play Years Cognitive Development
Exam 2, Film
Play Years Psychosocial Development
School Years Biosocial & Cognitive Development
School Years Cognitive & Psychosocial Development
Exam 3
Assignment
Chapter
1
1
2
3
4,5
2
Opt. Project
6,7
+7,8
9,10
+10
11
12,13
+13,14
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Introductory Psychology.
Requirements: To fulfill the stated class objectives, you will participate in class activities,
complete two short-assignments, and write three exams.(An optional, additional class project
is described below).
Exams: Exams will cover the reading assignments as well as material presented in class
(including films). Each term exam will test material presented since the most recent exam and
will comprise primarily multiple choice questions, though some fill-in-the-blank, definitions, or
short answer questions may be included. The final exam will include material presented
throughout the semester (see details below).
NOTE: Attendance on exam and in-class lab assignment dates is required. Make-up exams
will be considered only if the student has a legitimate reason and contacts the instructor
before the test.
The three exams will be administered as detailed below:
Exam 1 - Oct 03 Chapters 1 - 5 & all lectures and classroom activities prior to exam
(31 % of course marks).
Exam 2 - Nov 07 Chapters 6 -10 & lectures and classroom activities following the first exam
(31 % of course marks).
If the optional project is submitted on its due date, then Exam1 and Exam2 will each be
reduced to 26% of course marks.
Exam 3 - Dec 05 Approximately 1/4 of this third exam will include major themes of the course
and material covered prior to the second exam. The remainder of the exam will focus on
Chapters 11 -14 & all lectures and classroom activities following the second exam (20% of
course marks).
The Assignments (2) will consist of written papers (1-4 pages long) that you will utilize for
classroom group work. You will note and append relevant ideas and comments raised during
this group work before submitting your papers at the end of class. Further details will be given
when the assignments are distributed in class. I will penalize late assignments, (each
assignment: 5% of course marks)
Class participation: Your presence (body & mind) will be necessary to participate in and
complete classroom activities (e.g., group debates, exercises, & discussions). (8% of course
marks)
Optional Project. You will need to design a recreation / O.T. area for children in the "Play
Years". The nature of this design will reflect the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial
characteristics of children of this age. You also will need to describe how your design
accomplishes these goals. (I will hand-out a more detailed project description later in the
course).(Optional 10% of course marks).
Grading: A+ = 91+ A=80-90 B+=75-79 B =70-74 C+ =65-69 C=60-64 D=50-59 F< 50
Date: Nov 10 Last date for voluntary withdrawal, no academic penalty.
Plagiarism and cheating. The following is a quotation from the University of Manitoba
General Calendar: "Plagiarism or any other form of cheating in examinations or term tests
(e.g., crib notes) is subject to serious academic penalty (e.g., suspension or expulsion from
the faculty or University). A student found guilty of contributing to cheating in examinations or
term assignments is also subject to serious academic penalty." See page 31 of the General
Calendar for further information.