Factors Affecting Child Development

Start with areas of development

Begin with the mind map Holistic child development. It brings together physical, social and language development, with branches on gross and fine motor skills and the senses. Use it to get a view of the areas covered before looking at factors that may affect them.

Then open Factors affecting a child's development. Its branches include food and drink, sleep and rest, health, family background and genetic inheritance. Compare these branches with the areas in the holistic development map. This gives you a way to organize the material without treating the maps as a single account.

Explore transitions and a case study

Understanding Transitions introduces definitions and meanings of transition, including contexts of status, time and space. Another map looks at types of transitions that can affect children and young people’s development, with examples including bullying and abuse. A slide set also discusses transitions and how adults can help children express their feelings.

For a case-based view, look at Case Study: Brayden. Its branches cover developmental delays, health history and interventions. You can compare the areas mentioned there with the broader development maps, while keeping the details of the case in view.

Use the collection together

The page also includes a map on children’s cultural worlds, with branches on play, traditions and friendships. Together, the resources offer different starting points for studying Factors Affecting Child Development within the Child and Human Development unit of Education and pedagogy.

After exploring a map, try the listed quiz as part of your study. Return to a relevant map to look over its branches, then use the maps to organize what you want to study next. Explore a resource that takes your interest.