Father Saturnino Urios University

LET Reviewer
Child and Adolescence Development

I. The Child and Adolescent Learners

Definition (Acero et al 2008)
Childhood - an evolving steps, usually constant, towards adulthood
shaped by an extensive array of forces and ideas, that range
from ethnicity to class, from region to religion
and from gender to politics.
It connotes a time of innocence, where one is free from
responsibility but vulnerable to forces in his environment.
It suggests a period where one enjoys closeness
with parents and shared expectations.

*Changing Patterns of Childhood & Adolescence*

Adolescence - is the period of psychological and social transition
between childhood and adulthood.
* In English countries adolescent and teenager are are synonymous
- a transitional stage of human development in which
a juvenile matures into an adult.
The transition involves biological, social, and
psychological changes.
- the stage where the person experiences dramatic changes
in the body along with developments in his psychology
and career.
- The ages of adolescence vary by culture.
WHO, defines adolescence as the period between
10-19 years of age.
In the US, it is the period that begins between 12 and 14
and ends at 19 or 20.
- In mid 20th century, a teenager or teen is a person
whose age is a number ending in teen between 13 to 19.
* The Rights of Children and Young Person
Presidential Decree No. 603 dated December 10, 1974 (Bustos, et al 1999)
listed down the Rights of Children and Young Persons. This was aimed at
understanding children better and for Filipino teacher to be more aware of
childrens rights.

1. Every child is endowed with dignity and worth of a human being

from the moment of his conception, as generally accepted in
medical parlance, and has therefore, the right to be born well.
2. Every child has the right of a wholesome family life that will
provide him love, care and understanding, guidance and counseling,
moral and material security.
3. Every child has the right to a well-rounded development of his
 personality to the end, that he may become a happy, useful,
and active member of society.

* Physical and Motor Development of Children and Adolescents

Physical changes in height & weight happen at a comparatively slower
rate in the preschool years than in Infancy. Normally, a child adds about 2 to 3
inches in height and about 6 pounds in weight yearly. Alongside with the
physical changes are the changes in Motor development. More than the ability
to walk the child is also able to acquire skills and begin to explore as part of his
acquired independence.
Among adolescents, the early sign of maturation is the
adolescent growth spurt. There is a sharp increase in height & weight seen
among girls aged 9 1/2 - 14 1/2 years and in boys between 10 1/2 to 16.
Usually, adult height is attained at age 14 or 15 for girls and 18 for boys.
brain development continues to develop after birth
Factors affecting development: Maternal Nutrition, Child Nutrition,
Medical Condition, exercise, sleep, emotional well-being
Exceptional Development: Physical Disabilities, Sensory Impairments,
Learning Disabilities, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD ADD
Decision-Making Impulsive Sluggish
Attention-Seeking Short off Modest
Egotistical Shy
Relishes in being the worst Often socially withdrawn
Assertiveness Bossy Under-assertive
Often irritating Overly polite and docile
Recognizing Boundaries Intrusive Honors boundaries
Occasionally rebellious Usually polite and obedient
Popularity Attract new friends but has Bonds but does not easily
difficulty bonding attract friends
Associated Diagnoses Oppositional Depression
Defiance
Conduct Disorder

Linguistic and Literacy Development of Children and Adolescents

Natural History of Language Development

* Traditional Learning View holds that language development depends
upon the principle of reinforcement.

* Another Learning Theorists hold that language is primarily learned

through imitation
*Noam Chomsky - espouses the nativist approach to language development
which asserts that children have an innate Language Acquisition
Device (LAD) that enables them to learn a language early and quickly.

*Modern theorist recognizes children as biologically prepared for language

but requires extensive experience with spoken language for
adequate development

*Jerome Bruner - emphasizes the critical roles parents and other early caregivers
play in language development. He proposes the LANGUAGE
ACQUISITION SUPPORT SYSTEM (LASS).

Factors affecting Early Language Development:

- Early Language Stimulation * Story Reading
- Literate Communities and Environment

Piaget recognized that children are naturally curios about the world
and are active and motivated learners.

Learning occurs through the process of equilibrium

Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934) asserted that children learn through socially

meaningful interactions and that language is both social and
an important facilitator of learning.
He believed that children learn best when they are attempting
to learn is within this zone.
A childs zone of proximal development is the range
of tasks that the child can perform with guidance from others
but cannot yet perform independently.
Vygotsky and Jerome Bruner used term SCAFFOLD

Cognitive Development
Cognition is the process of learning in the broadest sense. This includes
perception memory, judgment and thinking. It is both mental activity and behavior that
provides and understanding of the world arising from biological, experimental,
motivational, and social influences.