23 Chapter 1 Learning About Children
Why Study
Children?
Knowing how to meet children’s
needs is not easy. Before studying
how adults can help children develop
and learn, you must understand why
you should study children.
To Understand Yourself
Studying how children grow
and develop can help you grow,
too. It can help you appreciate all
that goes into taking a fi rst step or
saying a fi rst word. When you help
a child overcome a fear or learn a
skill, you feel good. Adults often
enjoy just being with children. Their
awe of beauty, their frankness, and
their world of magic please adults.
Children can share gifts that,
sadly, adults often outgrow. Many
times, adults are not fully aware
that who they are today is a result
of the children they once were. As
you study children, you can gain
insight into your own growth,
development, and values. You
can also understand how your
values affect your feelings about,
and reactions to, children. This
knowledge can then help you
learn better ways in which to care
for children.
To Be a Responsible
Parent
By studying children, parents
know their children’s needs at each
stage of development. They also
know the best ways to respond
to those needs. Parenting is a
mind-boggling task. How much
adults know about children, however,
can determine the kind of parents
they become. Studying children
also helps parents have realistic
expectations about their parenting
abilities. Parents must be responsible
for meeting all their children’s needs,
which include the following:
physical needs. Children
need the right diet to nourish
their growing, active bodies.
They need clothes that are
well-fi tting. Children need
shelter and physical protection,
1-2. They also need proper
health and medical care. Parents
must provide for these needs.
intellectual needs. Parents
need to provide good learning
experiences for their children.
Positive learning experiences can
motivate children and help them
develop the necessary skills they
need to become independent
adults. Parents must also meet
children’s creative needs.
1-2
Infants and young children
have many safety needs.