Author(s): Karen Kearns

Parenting

Birth to Big School, 2E, is written to support delivery of units in the Certificate III in Children's Services. The text focuses on development in early and middle childhood, and covers the following topics: Beginnings - introduces concepts and principles relating to child development, and looks at play as a learning strategy for young children; Moving - examines physical development, including gross and fine motor skills; Thinking and talking - looks at cognitive development, language and communication and literacy skills; Socialising - looks at the development of the closely related social and emotional domains, including key developments such as trust, attachment, autonomy and self-esteem. Also explores how to guide children towards positive behaviour; Playing - discusses the provision of appropriate play environments and experiences that support children's development and learning, including an introduction to observing and documenting children's learning; Documentation - a new chapter which summarises the key elements of a quality early childhood program.