The purpose of this research paper is twofold – it is meant to encourage you to be reflective about your own development as a human, specifically in your youth, and to encourage you to explore various concepts of child development as they applied to your own life. You will need to think carefully about milestones in your own life, pivotal moments, and other important events that have shaped you. You will also need to talk with people who knew you well as a child and who can give you some insight about your development.
SPECIAL NOTE: If this is not possible for you for whatever reason, you may complete this project for someone else you know well and for whom you can acquire the necessary information. ***Please feel free to make up the details, I can say that I interviewed a friend or family member***
Structure:
Your paper should take an essay format with an introduction and closing paragraph. Body paragraphs should be structured, clear, and have an identifiable flow. You will only need the textbook for the class and personal information that you uncover through interviewing people who know you – therefore, there will be no need for any citations/bibliography. The requirements below are meant to help you structure your essay. It will not be enough simply to answer the questions. You will need to provide some context for each of the concepts to show your understanding of them. You MUST complete Part 1 (childbirth). Beyond that, you will choose 2 of the remaining parts. You can choose ANY 2 stages of development besides childbirth that you would like to explore. Within your paper, you must clearly identify (with a heading) which stage of development you are discussing. If possible, for up to 10 points extra credit, you may include photographs that illustrate various concepts that you discuss in your paper. You must provide a caption that explains the photograph’s connection to the concept. There is no specific length requirement for this paper. Be sure that you respond to all the prompts in each part that you choose.
Requirements:
Part 1: Childbirth
Describe your childbirth
Was it a “normal” childbirth?
What was your mother’s labor experience like?
What was your birth weight and length?
Did your mother and/or father have any environmental or developmental concerns about you at birth?
Did your mother breastfeed? Why/why not? Do you believe this had a positive/negative impact on you? Why/Why not?
Part 2: Infancy and Toddlerhood
Describe your physical development
Consider the neonatal reflexes; did you display all of them?
What were your sleep patterns like at birth, 3 months, and 1 year?
At what ages did you: roll over, crawl, and walk? How did your development compare to the “averages” described in the textbook?
Discuss any biological or environmental factors that might have helped or hurt your development in this area.
Describe your cognitive and language development
Using Piaget’s stages of development, describe when and how you reached each stage. If possible, describe a specific action you engaged in that represents an example of each stage.
Using the language milestones, compare your language development to what is described. As best you can, provide examples of words or phrases you used at each stage.
Discuss any biological or environmental factors that might have helped or hurt your development in this area.
Describe your social and emotional development
Which “temperament” type were you during infancy and toddlerhood? Provide specific examples of your personality that illustrates this temperament.
Which “attachment” type were you during your infancy and toddlerhood? Provide specific examples of your personality that illustrates this level of attachment.
Part 3 – Early Childhood
Describe your physical development and health
Provide an example and include a timeline for the development of your:
gross motor skills
fine motor skills
(choose an important behavior or accomplishment that represents a breakthrough or milestone for each and describe the circumstances)
Provide a descriiption of your sleeping and eating habits
What was your diet like during this stage of your development?
What were your eating habits during this stage of development?
Did your parents/caregivers recognize a positive or negative effect from these things on your personality or cognition?
Describe your Cognitive Development during early childhood
Provide an example of Piaget’s preoperational thinking during your own development
Provide an example of Vygotsky’s Social Cognitive development
Describe your Social and Emotional Development during early childhood
Which parenting style did your parents most commonly use? Use specific examples to illustrate this.
How did your parents style affect your development?
If you had siblings, how would you describe your relationship with them?
Part 4 – Late Childhood
Describe your physical development and health
Provide an example and include a timeline for the development of your:
gross motor skills
fine motor skills
(choose an important behavior or accomplishment that represents a breakthrough or milestone for each and describe the circumstances)
Provide a descriiption of your sleeping and eating habits
What was your diet like during this stage of your development?
What were your eating habits during this stage of development?
Did your parents/caregivers recognize a positive or negative effect from these things on your personality or cognition?
Describe your Cognitive and Language Development
Look at the various “Components of Intelligence” which of the “components,” “multiple intelligences,” or “types of thinking” applied to you during late childhood. Provide specific examples to illustrate this.
Describe your school environment and experiences; did you experience social perspective taking, prejudice or discrimination, ethnic awareness, multicultural exposure, teacher bias, special needs education, accelerated education? Discuss how any of these might have affected your development.
Describe your Social and Emotional Development
Based on the descriiption of “resilience”, would you call yourself a resilient child? Explain why or why not
Describe a specific behavior that you engaged in that fits EACH ONE of Piaget’s Stages of Moral Development
Describe a specific behavior that you engaged in that fits EACH ONE of Kholberg’s theory of Moral Development
Part 5 – Adolescence
Describe your Physical Development and health
Compare your “adolescent growth spurt” to the “average” one described in the textbook. Did yours align closely? Did you meet the milestones? Were there any abnormalities?
Describe your Cognitive Development
Choose and describe a behavior that is an example of “formal operational thinking” that you displayed during adolescence
Think about the gender differences in verbal, spatial, and math skills. Describe circumstances where your abilities in these areas differed from someone who was the opposite gender as you. Use specific examples
Describe your Social and Emotional Development
Look at Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development. Explain how you came to have the identity you possess now. Use specific examples.
Provide specific examples of behaviors that you engaged in that illustrate the three different kinds of autonomy.
Discuss the various factors that you either excelled in or were lacking in that contributed to your resilience or vulnerability.
