Applied Child Psychology Course

Lesson 1 • History and Scope of the Field

Traces child psychology from early philosophical views to modern science. Contextualises current practice within historical shifts in understanding childhood.

Lesson 2 • Research Methods in Child Psychology

Covers observational, experimental, and longitudinal designs used with children. Equips learners to critically evaluate research evidence.

Lesson 3 • Nature, Nurture, and Plasticity

Examines genetic, environmental, and transactional influences on development. Introduces the concept of developmental plasticity and sensitive periods.

Lesson 1 • Brain Architecture and Neuroplasticity

Explains neural migration, synaptogenesis, pruning, and myelination. Connects brain maturation to emerging cognitive and behavioural capacities.

Lesson 2 • Motor Development Across Childhood

Traces gross and fine motor skill acquisition from infancy to adolescence. Identifies red flags indicating motor delays or neurological concerns.

Lesson 3 • Puberty and Adolescent Physical Change

Describes hormonal, physical, and brain changes during puberty. Addresses timing variations and psychosocial effects of early or late maturation.

Lesson 1 • Intelligence and Cognitive Assessment

Reviews theories of intelligence and standardised cognitive assessment tools. Addresses cultural fairness and interpretation of assessment results.

Lesson 2 • Language Acquisition and Development

Traces phonological, semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic development. Identifies language milestones and markers of language delay or disorder.

Lesson 3 • Piagetian Stages of Cognitive Growth

Details sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete, and formal operational stages. Applies stage theory to educational and clinical assessment contexts.

Lesson 4 • Information Processing and Memory

Covers working memory, executive function, and metacognition development. Links processing capacity to academic performance and learning difficulties.

Lesson 1 • Emotional Development and Regulation

Traces emotional recognition, expression, and self-regulation from infancy onward. Connects regulatory capacity to behavioural and academic outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Attachment Theory and Early Relationships

Covers Bowlby and Ainsworth's attachment models and Strange Situation patterns. Links early attachment quality to later social and emotional functioning.

Lesson 3 • Peer Relationships and Social Competence

Examines friendship formation, peer status, and social skill development. Identifies consequences of peer rejection and social isolation.

Lesson 4 • Temperament and Personality

Introduces temperament dimensions and their interaction with parenting and environment. Explains goodness-of-fit and its implications for child outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Family Structure and Dynamics

Analyses effects of family composition, sibling relationships, and family transitions. Connects family dynamics to child adjustment and resilience.

Lesson 2 • Cultural and Ethnic Identity Development

Traces how children develop cultural and ethnic identity across childhood. Addresses acculturation, bicultural identity, and minority stress.

Lesson 3 • Parenting Styles and Practices

Covers Baumrind's parenting typology and its developmental outcomes. Addresses cultural variation in parenting norms and effectiveness.

Lesson 4 • Media, Technology, and Child Development

Evaluates effects of screen time, social media, and digital content on development. Provides evidence-based guidance for healthy technology use.

Lesson 1 • Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Covers ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and learning disorders. Links neurobiological mechanisms to behavioural presentations and intervention needs.

Lesson 2 • Internalising Disorders in Children

Examines anxiety disorders, depression, and trauma-related conditions in childhood. Distinguishes normative worry from clinical anxiety and mood disorders.

Lesson 3 • Externalising Disorders and Conduct Problems

Covers oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and aggression. Addresses developmental pathways from early defiance to serious conduct problems.

Lesson 4 • Psychological Assessment of Children

Trains learners in multi-method assessment including interviews, rating scales, and observation. Covers report writing and communicating findings to families.

Lesson 1 • Behavioural and Cognitive-Behavioural Interventions

Covers reinforcement, exposure, cognitive restructuring, and problem-solving techniques. Applies CBT protocols to anxiety, depression, and conduct problems.

Lesson 2 • School-Based and Group Interventions

Covers social skills groups, classroom-based programmes, and multi-tiered support systems. Links school intervention to broader ecological treatment planning.

Lesson 3 • Play Therapy and Expressive Modalities

Introduces directive and non-directive play therapy, art, and narrative approaches. Addresses developmental rationale for play as a therapeutic medium.

Lesson 4 • Principles of Evidence-Based Practice

Defines evidence-based practice and levels of evidence for child interventions. Addresses how to integrate research, clinical expertise, and family values.

Lesson 1 • Resilience, Post-Traumatic Growth, and Prevention

Examines individual, family, and community factors that promote resilience. Introduces universal and targeted prevention programmes for at-risk children.

Lesson 2 • Trauma-Informed Assessment and Care

Introduces trauma-informed principles and trauma-focused assessment tools. Connects trauma history to current symptom presentation and treatment planning.

Lesson 3 • Trauma-Focused Interventions

Covers trauma-focused CBT, EMDR adaptations, and somatic approaches for children. Addresses sequencing of stabilisation, processing, and integration phases.

Lesson 4 • Child Maltreatment: Recognition and Response

Covers physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect indicators. Trains learners in mandatory reporting obligations and documentation practices.