Course Reflective Journal

Course Reflective Journal

Guendi

Institutional Affiliation(s)

Course Reflective Journal

The course ‘Introduction to the Child Development’ has been really informative as it took into account several considerations in child’s growth and development. This course made me aware of the importance of play in the healthy growth of child. This really impacted my learning as there was no absence of play time for young children. I have never been a keen follower of the concept "play" in work. But this changed when the course displayed the good side of play in classrooms through various demonstrations. It highlighted that children should never be devoid of playful activities such as jumping, climbing, running when they are attending a formal institution like classrooms. There should be a harmonious balance between both education and play as there is no separation between the physical and mental growth and development. Moreover, the employment of several methods and practices such as observations, physical activities, role playing, symbolic activities have really enlightened me on a better training of a child.

The thing that surprised me was the role of play in the early growth and development of children. Several methods and practices that were duly practiced in this course of study were really comprehensive and pivotal. The deployment of play such impressively into classrooms was the innovative idea that really inspired me. This gave me an insight that it is not difficult to assimilate different activities into classrooms. One can easily do that with the help of different types of playful activities such as symbolic play, physical play, and psychological play. Each of these deal with different areas of growth and development of a child. So I was really inspired by the idea that play can become a part of the learning process without obstructing its way.

The lesson I would take from this course of child development is that children must be given an environment that is full of diverse experiences. They must not be caged in just one type of activities such as education alone. They must be given a chance to develop all their faculties and skills. The development of motor skills, language, cognitive skills and the sense of empathy in a child is much essential in a child and there is no other channel better than the one offered in classrooms. Classrooms are the first formal institution in child’s life, so it has to inculcate all necessary ingredients in him. So, they must be given a fully functional environment for that better growth and development.

I feel ready to work with children of different ages and developing stage confidently now as I have gone through this informative Course of child development. I feel now I connect with children a lot better as I have spent huge time in observing and noticing children in classrooms. Most families are not much enthusiastic to leave their children with those who do not much about their habits. But I think as I know them well and their unspoken wants and wishes, I can do easily relate with them in any setting.

In a nutshell, it is mandatory that children must be given enough attention and facilities in their early years as this hold much more significance in the coming years of their life. They should be equal opportunities for education and play in their early years as one cannot deny the sheer importance of play in education. These playing activities aim to cater the social development of a child as well as learns to communicate with others, and also his physical growth where his physical ability is enhanced. Hence, play plays a vital role in child’s healthy growth.