Advanced Child Development, Boursiquot, Summer 2026

Course Description

This course is designed to provide current and aspiring early childhood and early childhood special educators with an opportunity to acquire in-depth knowledge of children’s typical and atypical development across all domains, from conception through middle childhood. The course will assist educators to develop a deep understanding of how children develop and apply this knowledge not only in classroom assignments, but more importantly, in their work as early childhood educators.

We will study child development by observing children, examining research, and considering various theoretical perspectives that have formed our interpretations of how and why children develop in both similar and unique ways. We will explore the cultural and familial contexts in which children develop and the factors that impact their development through readings, discussions, multimedia, child observations, and personal experiences. In addition, students will develop a better understanding of research methods and refine their own observational skills.

In this course, students will conduct observations of children at different stages of development and analyze and interpret their observations by applying what they are learning in this course. Students will also do in-depth research into a topic in child development that interests them and teach others what they have discovered.

Audience: Early Childhood Educators and Early Childhood Special Educators with a Bachelor’s Degree.

Course Goals & Objectives

Course Goals: In this course students will:

• develop knowledge of typical and atypical child development, prenatal through middle childhood,
• be aware of child development within each domain and the integration of development across domains,
• recognize the role familial, cultural, educational, historical, and sociological factors have on young children’s development and their impact on exceptionalities, and
• understand the major theories that explain child development and how nature and nurture interact in development.

Course Objectives: Students will:

• understand family systems theory appreciate family differences due to race, culture, language, poverty, trauma, and/or composition,
• realize the importance of attachment and of secure, responsive, nurturing and consistent relationships to young children’s learning and development,
• recognize the role the family plays as the context for children’s development,
• identify the impact of trauma on children’s development, identify the characteristics of a resilient child and practices that build child resilience, and
• acquire and refine their skills in conducting and recording naturalistic observations of young children, interpreting qualitative data, and drawing evidence-based conclusions.

Required Readings/Resources

Costs for required readings/resources may not be included in the course tuition. Please contact VT-HEC for more information.