Overview

This activity is part of a comprehensive eLearning training series on children's mental health developed by the Australian Psychological Society.

Working with children, one of society’s most vulnerable groups, represents a considerable responsibility.

This series aims to upskill mental health professionals in their capacity to deliver best practice services to children and their families. 

Across four activities, participants will cover essential knowledge in development, assessment and treatment as well as contemporary issues, for the provision of best practice support and intervention:

1. Foundations

2. Child development

3. Assessment

4. Treatment of mental health disorders

2. Child development

This is the second activity in the series.

The process of acquiring physical, cognitive, social and emotional skills begins at conception, continuing throughout childhood and adolescence. A developmental perspective is critical for understanding children’s problems and for supporting optimal health. This activity covers:

• the importance of the world around the child and the neurological changes that occur in response to that world,

• the discovery of the key principles behind a developmental perspective with case studies to assist in identifying age-related milestones and developmental red flags, and

• neuroplasticity and a socio-ecological model of development will provide a contemporary context for the factors that influence its trajectory, such as epigenetics, caregiver relationships, culture, adversity and nutrition. 

Case studies, reflection activities, videos and short quizzes will support learning.

Level of Learning

Intermediate. This activity is targeted to those who have some previous learning on the topic.

Duration of access

Access to this activity is for 6 months from the date of confirmed registration.

APS CPD-Approved

This eLearning activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality.

Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process.

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this eLearning activity, participants should be able to:

• explain why a developmental perspective is vital to the assessment and support of children and their families,

• outline the key principles underpinning child development, 

• describe the implications of contemporary brain science on development, including neuroplasticity and the building of brain architecture,

• apply the socio-ecological model to variations in child development, such as childhood adversity, culture and nutrition,

• identify key milestones and developmental red flags from infancy through adolescence, and

• identify common parental concerns and red flags that may suggest a child is not developing along a typical trajectory.

Notes