Early Development (8APK030)

Early Development (8APK030)

Level ~ Graduate Certificate
Availability ~ All teaching periods
Type ~ Perinatal and Infant

The purpose of this module is to give an overview of typical infant development, defined as average or “on-time” growth based on the attainment of specific physical, cognitive, linguistic, social-emotional, and behavioural milestones across specific stages.

A foundational understanding of average development can be useful to practitioners in many ways, from assisting clinicians in history taking or planning diagnostic work at intake to assessment, augmenting case conceptualisation and the selection of developmentally appropriate treatments.

For Term dates, see the Academic Calendar.


Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the unit, students will be able to:

  • Understand key developmental principles including nature versus nurture, developmental plasticity, critical and sensitive periods, and the roles of culture and context;
  • Understand average or ‘on time’ growth and development; and
  • Identify and describe risk and protective factors that can shape development

Weekly Schedule
Week 1 Brain basics
Week 2 Communication and language
Week 3 Cognitive development
Week 4 Social and emotional development
Week 5 Understanding challenging behaviours