There is nothing more fun than teaching high school students about child development! It is relatable to them because they were once a child, and some of them have younger siblings and may even be interested in early childhood education. Usually, a child development course in high school is a pretty popular class, so you get students excited to learn!
Why Teaching Child Development and Early Education is Important
For several reasons, teaching high school students about child development and early childhood education as part of Family and Consumer Science programs is important. Firstly, it provides young adults with foundational knowledge of children’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development, empowering them to understand and support future generations’ growth. This is a good idea because it fosters empathy, patience, and responsibility, which are essential for any student. Whether they become parents, go on to higher education into an education program to become teachers, or play a supportive role in the lives of children within their community.
Furthermore, such courses give students practical skills in child care and education, potentially sparking interest in careers within early childhood education and working with young children. We all know that the demand for qualified childcare and education professionals continues to grow in our society. By instilling an understanding of child growth and development at a young age, we encourage a more nurturing, informed, and supportive culture, benefiting not just individual family units but the broader community.
Child Development Activities for High School
As classroom teachers, it is our role to make learning engaging and meaningful, and it can be easy to do when teaching a fun course such as this! You can incorporate a lot of work in small groups, board games, research activities, student presentations, and more in your child development class. Here are some ideas to get you started:
1- Bell Ringers-
We love to start each class period off on the right foot; bell ringers can be a great way to do that! This Child Development Bell Ringer Journal gives you enough questions for an entire semester with 90 prompts. Questions include topics such as:
- language development
- physical development of children
- nature vs. nurture
- cognitive development
- child development theorists
- child safety
- and more!
You can print these and have students do a page or 2 a week, keep them in a binder, or assign them in Google Classroom because a digital version is also included. Another way we have assigned them is to print them all ahead of time and put them in a binder for each student to leave in the classroom.
As they enter the classroom, remind them to take out their bell ringer journals and begin their daily bell ringer immediately. They make a great discussion piece and help start each class right. They are great for observations as well because students will understand their routine. Read more about how to assign bell ringer journals here!
Different Ways to Teach Child Development Standards
2- Digital Escape Room–
Another fun way to teach child development concepts is with digital resources such as our free digital escape room on babysitting safety! Students move through 8 clues to learn about safe sitting practices. They cannot move forward until they crack each code. This is assigned through Google Forms, so it is a great activity to assign in Google Classroom! It helps students with problem-solving skills and critical thinking. This activity works well for sub-plans and will take students about 30 minutes to complete. It is a great activity for middle school or high school students.
3- Child Development Activities to Review Vocabulary–
Even high schoolers like to play board games, and that’s why this vocabulary game that includes all things child development is a great opportunity to get your students to participate in a way other than direct instruction! Group games are great for communication skills and are fun card games that build classroom relationships! Students play on a game board that you print and can put in a plastic reusable sleeve or laminate, and they answer questions to move to the spaces and earn points. You are off the hook once you break them into groups and can circle the room, monitoring their progress.
Before you play, you can move through a slideshow presentation that is included to review the important concepts and new words so they are prepared to play. Questions about brain development, theorists, specific skills children develop, and more.
4- Free Child Development Get to Know You BINGO Game
This one is great for the beginning of the school year when you are trying to get to know your students, and they are building peer relationships. A positive classroom environment in this class is beneficial because you probably do a lot of group work and offer opportunities to share experiences. This is along the line of get to know you scavenger hunts because students try to find classmates that have experience something in each square of their game board.
Directions read: “Move around the room and fill in all the squares. Be sure to write your friends’ names on the lines below.” Don’t use the same person more than once. Examples of questions include:
- has a favorite stuffed animal from their childhood
- had an imaginary friend as a child
- played an instrument as a child
- and more.
This has them thinking about their childhood development in different ways and prompting some fun discussions in the classroom about when they were younger children. These activities help bring a positive classroom culture so that you can naturally do activities in large, small, or however you decide!
To set this game up, you need to print and cut the question cards and have students use the vocabulary sheet to fill their boards or boards with terms. You choose cards randomly and read the definition, and students cross off the ones you read. If you want to play another round, students can create new boards. You can allow them to use the definition sheet while you play or collect them for an extra challenge! Use reusable sleeves to play multiple times without wasting paper, and have them use dry-erase markers to mark their boards.
5- The Role of Parents
Teaching about the role of parents is an important aspect of childhood development. This Roles of Parents lesson includes a slideshow covering topics such as physical health and safety of children, emotional intelligence and behavioral competence, social skills, and cognitive competence.
Additionally, the resource includes a review of parenting styles including authoritarian and its impact, authoritative and its impact, permissive and its impact, neglectful and its impact. It also includes guided notes and a digital escape room for students to practice what they learned! This is a great lesson as a review or introduction to the roles of parents and other key family members in a child’s development.
Technology and its Effects on Children
I like to incorporate how technology has affected children in the recent decade because it is such a reality today and can impact human development. This is a good chance to have students do some research on their own. They can research different popular children’s apps and present how educational they are, as well as television shows, YouTube, etc. If you give them a worksheet outlining what to research, they can complete it and make a slideshow or even a short video about the app or show. We have a Toddlers and Technology resource in our store.
The Child Development activity includes a slide show presentation in both Google and PPT, all about toddlers and the use of technology, both the positive and the negative impacts. Students then answer questions and research a children’s television show and an online app to find information about child development.
This lesson is great for middle and high school Child Development students in FACS and Intro. to Education.
6- Teaching About Multiple Intelligences
Kim Graybill from familyconsumersciences.com has some great, free child development activities and content that will help you enrich your curriculum. This activity has students using Mr. Potato Heads in groups to identify Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences and have a good laugh at the funny creations they make. The PDFs are included! This is a nice way to incorporate social interaction with your class and do something a little different while learning.
7- High School Child Development Field Trips
Taking field trips can be a great way to break up the semester and give students some real-world experiences. Here are some ideas for places to take your high schoolers.
- Early Childhood Education Centers: Visiting a preschool or daycare can give students firsthand experience with young children’s learning environments. They can observe child-teacher interactions, the structure of early childhood education, and possibly even participate in teaching activities.
- Children’s Museums: These museums are designed with interactive exhibits encouraging children to explore, learn, and play. High school students can learn about developmental stages by observing how children engage with different exhibits.
- Public Libraries: Many libraries offer young children storytime sessions and other educational programs. Observing or participating in these programs can give students insights into early literacy development and the role of storytelling in child development. Students can research ways the library engages young children and how it can benefit their development with age-appropriate activities.
- Nutrition and Cooking Workshops: Since nutrition plays a crucial role in child development, attending workshops that focus on preparing healthy meals for children can be both educational and practical.
- Art Workshops for Children: Participating in or observing art classes for children can highlight the role of creativity and expression in child development. Students can learn about the developmental benefits of art, such as fine motor skills and emotional expression.
8- Child Development Choice Boards
Choice boards make great early finisher activities. Students are given one board each and must complete activities to total a certain amount of points. They must show the teacher they finished each square to get a completion signature. Activities include:
- Complete the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs chart on page 11
- Create a children’s book of at least 5 pages for a baby or toddler.
- Complete the Breastfeeding vs.Bottle-feeding chart on page 10
- and more!
9- Teach about Types of Schools
Teaching about the types of schools is an important component of educating high school students on child development and early childhood education for several reasons:
- Understanding Diversity in Education: It introduces students to the diversity of educational settings and philosophies, such as public, private, charter, Montessori, and Waldorf schools, each of which has its approach to teaching and learning. This awareness helps students appreciate the range of educational experiences children might have and understand how these experiences can shape a child’s development.
- Preparing Future Educators and Parents: For students interested in careers in education or those who will be future parents, understanding the types of schools can help them make informed decisions about educational environments that best support children’s learning and developmental needs.
- Awareness of Educational Equity and Access: Discussing various types of schools can also lead to conversations about access to education and educational equity. It allows students to consider how socioeconomic status, geography, and policy affect a child’s access to different types of schools.
- Professional Development: For students aspiring to work in education, early childhood development, or child psychology, understanding the landscape of educational options is essential. It provides a foundation for their professional development and helps them better advise parents and engage with children from various academic backgrounds.
Ways to teach different types of schools
- Research: Have students choose one type of school type and research it. They can create a poster or presentation teaching the rest of the class about the school. Then, have students vote on the type of school they think would be best for school-age children and parents.
- Model School Design: Have students create a model school of their design. Have them design the layout, the curriculum, the dress code, the staffing they would need, and the daily schedule. Students can then present their schools to the class.
- Guest Speakers: Inviting educators, administrators, and specialists from different types of schools to speak to the class provides firsthand insights into their educational philosophies, curricula, and day-to-day operations. This can also allow students to ask questions and engage in discussions with professionals in the field.
- Field Trips: Organizing visits to various schools gives students a tangible sense of different educational environments. Observing classrooms, speaking with teachers and students, and experiencing the school culture can significantly enhance their understanding of each educational model.
- Case Studies: Analyzing case studies of specific schools or educational programs can help students understand the practical applications of different educational philosophies and the outcomes for child development. This method encourages critical thinking and the application of theoretical knowledge.
- Social Media and Online Forums: Guiding students to follow educational organizations, schools, and educators on social media or participate in online forums dedicated to education can offer ongoing insights and updates on different types of schools and educational innovations.
Check out this types of school Webquest with students answering questions about different types of schools using linked websites.
10- Child Development Worksheets
Sometimes, you need time to catch up on paper work and you want to give your students an assignment that they will enjoy that doesn’t take effort on your part. These Child Development Wordsearches are a great way to fill in time for sub plans, early finishers or just a relaxing day. I like putting on soothing music and letting them work in pairs to find the key child development vocabulary! Terms cover development milestones, theories, parenting styles, prenatal development and more! All you have to do is print and assign!
Teaching child development to high school students in family and consumer science classes is a cornerstone in preparing young individuals for the complexities of the real world, fostering a knowledgeable, empathetic, and well-equipped generation to contribute positively to society. By understanding the fundamental aspects of child development, students gain invaluable insights into children’s physical, cognitive, and emotional growth processes from birth through adolescence.
This knowledge empowers them to make informed decisions in their future roles as parents, educators, or caretakers, ensuring they can provide supportive environments that nurture a child’s potential. Furthermore, it cultivates a sense of responsibility and empathy, enabling students to appreciate the diversity of developmental paths and the importance of supporting each child’s unique journey.
In a broader sense, integrating child development into the high school curriculum enriches students’ lives, equipping them with the skills necessary to engage in healthy relationships, advocate for children’s needs, and contribute to the well-being of their communities. Ultimately, this education lays the groundwork for a more informed, compassionate, and proactive society where the developmental needs of children are understood and prioritized, shaping a brighter future for all.
