Human services professionals are those who work with people in different settings. Their jobs entail helping others cope and/or manage a plethora of issues. Using search terms such as child development, child development theories, domains of development, and developmental domains, the author identified appropriate sources in order to write this chapter. Based on existing literature in the human services fields, the author's goals for this chapter were expounding upon 1) developmental domains, 2) major theories of child development, and 3) the importance of human services professionals studying child development. Developmental domains (physical, cognitive, psychosocial [also known as socio-emotional], and language development) are the areas of growth or change that are part of people's development. There are multiple theories of child development and in this chapter; the author covers the seven major ones. Last but not least, the author provides an overview of the importance of human services professionals studying child development as part of their academic training.
TopDevelopmental Domains
In relation to development, the word ‘domain’ is used to refer to aspects of change and growth (Fraser-Thill, 2021). Physical development is defined as the domain covering a human being’s physical changes. Specifically, physical development entails bodily awareness, the senses, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills (Berger, 2020; Berk & Myers, 2016; Bukatko, 2007; Fraser-Thill, 2021; Hauser-Cram et al., 2013; Levine & Munsch, 2019; Martorell, 2018; Papalia & Martorell, 2014; Spivy, n.d.). Fine motor skills involve eye-hand coordination as well as the usage of small muscle groups like fingers. Gross motor skills on the other hand involve the usage of larger muscle groups like the torso, legs, and arms (Berger, 2020; Berk & Myers, 2016; Bukatko, 2007; Fraser-Thill, 2021; Hauser-Cram et al., 2013; Levine & Munsch, 2019; Martorell, 2018; Papalia & Martorell, 2014; Spivy, n.d.). The development of fine motor skills helps children perform tasks that are essential for daily living such as washing hands, picking up items, and feeding themselves (Fraser-Thill, 2021). The development of gross motor skills helps children to be aware of their bodies in terms of strength and balance and that helps them to not only control their bodies, but also, to be able to move them in different ways (Fraser-Thill, 2021).
Cognitive development is described as the domain focusing on our knowing and thinking and entails the processing of information and learning (Berger, 2020; Berk & Myers, 2016; Bukatko, 2007; Fraser-Thill; 2021; Hauser-Cram et al., 2013; Levine & Munsch, 2019; Martorell, 2018; Papalia & Martorell, 2014, Spivy, n.d.). In addition, creativity, imagination, memory, problem-solving, and reasoning fall under cognitive development. Cognitive skills generally help us make sense of and organize what we know before generalizing that knowledge to other areas of our lives (Berger, 2020; Berk & Myers, 2016; Bukatko, 2007; Fraser-Thill; 2021; Hauser-Cram et al., 2013; Levine & Munsch, 2019; Martorell, 2018; Papalia & Martorell, 2014; Spivy, n.d.). The development of cognitive skills also helps children to be independent decision makers and problem solvers who will navigate life in a critical manner (Fraser-Thill, 2021).