This course will develop skills in this area contribute to an understanding of the physical, social, emotional, speech and language, and intellectual development of children and the ability to use this understanding in guiding learning experiences and relating meaningfully to students.

In addition, this course focuses on the interaction of children with individual differences. Factors such as economic, social, racial, ethnic, religious, physical, and cognitive are incorporated in the course content. Lastly, this course includes skills contributing to an understanding of developmental disabilities and developmental issues related to, but not limited to, low socioeconomic status; attention deficit disorders; developmental disorders; gifted education, including the use of multiple criteria to identify gifted students; substance abuse; trauma, including child abuse and neglect and other adverse childhood experiences; and family disruptions.