Know

You have already learned that understanding how children develop and learn (i.e., “child development”) is a protective factor against child abuse and neglect. Why do you think this is true? What are the risks of not understanding child development? If we don’t understand child development, we are likely to think a child should act older than he or she is. We might put children in situations that are too challenging for them, causing us and the child to get frustrated. The child doesn’t understand what we want, and we don’t understand why the child won’t “behave.”

Understanding child development is a protective factor because it helps us recognize when a child needs extra help. If we do not understand child development, we might become frustrated instead of recognizing an opportunity to scaffold or strengthen a child’s experiences. When we get frustrated, we do not use our best thinking. We are less able to problem-solve, use new practices, think creatively, and be patient. We may be less able to support the children who need our help the most. 

Let’s take look at how children typically develop from the ages of 3 to 5 years. The information in this table is compiled from various sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). You can find this information in an easy-to-use checklist form in the Apply section.

As you read the milestones, did you notice any behaviors that might frustrate or challenge adults? Here are a few real-world scenarios that help illustrate the developmental stages:

• Carli and Claire only want to play with each other. They tell other children, “You can’t play with us.”
• Calvin and Kelsy make a game out of running up the slide even though this is against the rules.
• Desiree is still eating lunch even though all the other children finished and have cleared their plates.
• Clark does not nap. He never falls asleep and is always moving when asked to lay down.
• Dori begins sticking out her tongue and spitting on the little boy next to her.
• Aylen comes running to you screaming, “He hit me!”

Based on what you have seen, heard, or experienced in the program or community, do these scenarios ring true? Have you seen them happen? Have you experienced them? If you've spent time in programs, you've likely seen some or all of these behaviors. They're reflections of typical child development. We all go through stages as we grow, and certain behaviors can be expected at certain stages. This does not mean that all behaviors are easy for us as adults to deal with. It does mean that we can be prepared to recognize behaviors as reflections of growth and help children develop and mature. You'll learn more about this in the Cognitive Development course.

The table above can help you remember that behaviors like tantrums, not following directions, and making demands can be normal parts of development. As adults, we have to be prepared to respond positively and constructively. You’ll learn more about how to do that in the next two lessons.

Remember, these milestones tell us what children typically do at certain ages. They are not hard and fast rules. Individual children will vary a great deal in when and how they reach different milestones. If you have a concern about a child’s development, talk to your Training & Curriculum Specialist or administrator.

Understanding Temperament for Preschool Children

Temperament influences how each of us interacts with the world and the people around us. If you reflect on your own personality and preferences, it becomes clear that we all have certain ways we interact. Understanding our own temperament and the temperaments of the children around us can be very helpful. We are born with certain temperament traits or styles, and temperament is thought to be consistent across a life span. Here are nine temperament traits that you might see in yourself and the children around you (Thomas, Chess, & Birk, 1968):

• Activity level: Is the child always moving or sometimes sitting still?
• Regularity: Do children naturally have consistent schedules for eating and sleeping or are they more variable?
• Distractibility: Does the child focus for periods of time or shift attention?
• Approach to new things: Is the child cautious in new routines or experiences?
• Adaptability: Can the child adjust to new people or situations?
• Intensity of reactions: How does the child respond to situations?
• Threshold of responsiveness: How much stimulation does it take for a child to respond?
• Quality of mood: Is the child generally happy or sad?
• Attention span and persistence: How much time does a child spend on something despite distractions?

Take a minute to reflect on your own temperament. How do you define your temperament traits? How does understanding temperament help you understand your own behaviors and the behaviors of children?

Temperament researchers also have identified three temperament types that summarize these traits (Thomas, Chess, & Birch, 1968). The three temperament types are:

• Adaptable: These are “easy children.” They are open to new situations, have a moderate activity level, and are generally happy.
• Feisty: These children have a high activity level and usually strong responses to new stimuli. They might be considered energetic, assertive, and full of emotion.
• Cautious: These children need time and support to feel comfortable in new situations. They might be considered timid or serious.

Now take a minute to think about your own temperament type. Which of the three do you relate the most to? Do you find it easier to work with individuals (including children) who share your own temperament type? If you have a feisty temperament, you might find it harder to engage and connect with cautious children. You might think they move slow or take too long to adjust. You might not understand why they need so much help or space. If you have a cautious temperament, you might find yourself challenged by the energy level of feisty children. You might think they are always moving or yelling. Knowing your own temperament lets you step back and recognize these challenges or tensions as part of your personal interaction style. This lets you take steps to prevent stressful interactions between yourself and children.

How can you use an understanding of temperament in your work to prevent child abuse and neglect? First, understanding temperament helps you remain calm and see frustrating situations as potential personality differences. Second, you can use your understanding of a child’s temperament to come up with solutions to problems that work for them. Here are a few ways you can use temperament in your work:

Tips for Children with Cautious Temperaments:

• Provide plenty of space and time for the child to get comfortable. Encourage families to stay as long as possible to help children transition into the room.
• Avoid forcing eye contact or getting in the child’s face. Approach children slowly and give them time to warm up to you. When approaching their body to assist in self-care announce actions you are going to do to support children prior to taking actions. (“I see your nose is running, I’d like to help you blow your nose.”)
• Minimize changes to schedules and routines.
• Encourage children to bring comfort items such as a favorite blanket or teddy bear.
• Comfort children when they become upset. Spend time sitting together and watching others play.
• Tell children what can be expected and what the schedule is for the day.
• Provide a prompt to initiate transition time. Discuss with the child when an upcoming transition will occur. (“In 5 minutes it will be time to clean up for lunch.”)
• Create quiet space in the classroom where children can go if they need a space or are feeling over stimulated.

Tips for Children with Feisty Temperaments:

• Provide lots of opportunities for movement. Let them help turn the pages of stories. Give them extra time to relax before a nap.
• Provide opportunities for exploration. Stay close when introducing new or exciting objects. Help the child learn to explore safely.
• Do not punish intense reactions. Rather comfort the child: give hugs and help him or her work through emotions.
• Support children in recognizing their emotions so that they can identify their own emotions and learn cope when strong emotions are experienced. Validate children’s emotions by acknowledging without judgment which characteristics of their emotion they are expressing with their body and behavior.
• Step in when needed to help a child work through difficult interactions with other children.
• Provide sensory space where children can be directed when they have high amount of energy. Having a consistent space supports the child’s self-help skills. The child can go to sensory space when they have the need. They know that space is available to support them.

Children At-Risk for Abuse and Neglect

There are three categories of children more at-risk for child abuse and neglect: young children, children with disabilities, and children with challenging behavior. Why do you think these children are at an increased risk? Generally, these children might have a difficult time communicating, controlling their emotions, following directions, or getting along with others. The adults around them might get frustrated easily or not know how to help the child. This can put the child in a dangerous situation. We must be careful to remember this does not mean that the child causes the abuse and neglect. The child is never to blame. It also does not mean that only children in these categories are abused or neglected. Rather, we must remember to provide extra support to families whose children meet these characteristics.

Children under the age of 4 are at the greatest risk for child abuse and neglect. Can you think of reasons why this might be the case? When we think about the developmental milestones described above, we might see reasons. These children are least able to communicate their wants and needs to us. They are also not developmentally ready to solve complex social problems, regulate their behavior or emotions, and follow complicated directions. All of this leaves them vulnerable to negative interactions with adults who do not understand development.

When children do not meet the milestones described above in predictable ways and at predictable times, we can experience stress. We may not understand the child’s communication, we may not know how to meet the child’s physical needs, or we may doubt our competence. All of this can leave a person feeling helpless and confused. This stress puts children with developmental delays or disabilities at greater risk for child abuse or neglect.

Children with severe and persistent challenging behavior are also at a greater risk for abuse or neglect. When children demonstrate severe and persistent challenging behavior, adults often feel personally challenged. It’s not unusual to feel like a child is “pushing your buttons.” Adults may not know what to do and in a moment of crisis might resort to unacceptable punishment practices.

See

Now let’s think about how knowledge of child development looks in a classroom or program. Often knowledge of child development comes across as realistic expectations for behavior. Having the right expectations for children of various ages ensures that we are providing appropriate interactions and responses based on their age and level. Watch this video to learn more about realistic expectations.

Read the following statements from staff members. On the left, you see unrealistic expectations. On the right you see realistic expectations. Which classrooms or programs do you think feel like better places to be for children? Which staff members do you think feel less stressed at the end of the day?

Do

How can you make sure your expectations of children are appropriate?

• Continue to learn all you can about child development throughout your career. The Virtual Lab School has courses that will help you learn more about cognitive, physical, and social development. You will also learn about how children develop communication skills and a healthy sense of self.
• Gather information about child development to share with families. The handouts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Apply section are a good place to start, but your program or curriculum might have other resources you can share.
• As a new employee, spend time observing children in the program where you work. This will help you begin to understand what is typical for your age range. Also visit classrooms or programs for children who are older or younger. This will help you take the long view on development. If you expect the same thing from 4-year-olds that you see happening in the school-age program, you are setting yourself up for frustration.
• Remember what you have learned here when you get frustrated. It can be frustrating when a preschooler refuses to hang up his coat in his cubby, wash his hands, and sit on the carpet, but this is a part of growing up. Many of the behaviors that challenge adults are very typical parts of development. If you have a concern about a child’s behavior, talk to your trainer, coach, or administrator. They can help give you perspective on whether the behaviors are typical.
• Ask for help when you need it. We all need new ideas and support. When you are feeling frustrated or unsure about what to do for a child, ask a trainer or co-worker for ideas. This is a great way to build your own social connections and professional knowledge.