Normal and Exceptional Development

Chapters 4 from The Exceptional Child Inclusion in Early Childhood Education; Allen, K. Eileen and Cowdery, Glynnis E; 2012

Who Are “Exceptional” Children?

• Children first! • Have some atypical development• As with all children, our goal is to help improve each child’s overall

development

NAEYC Standard 1: Knowledge of how children develop and learn

• As professionals, we must know typical development in all of the developmental domains. • What is normal, or typical, development?• What is the predictable pattern of development along the

developmental continuum?• What is the importance of the concepts of DAP? Are we

knowledgeable of child development? Of individual differences? Of cultural considerations?

Developmental Sequences

• Predictable patterns of development• Not a smooth process; there are times of tremendous development

and times of slowing down throughout a child’s developmental years.• Developmental milestones are predictable and universal

• Note the developmental descriptions for children from infancy through the primary school years on pp. 83 – 88 in your text.

Atypical/Exceptional Development

• Know your terms• Savants• People-first language

• Characteristics of disabilities and delays• Children still have the potential for growth in all developmental domains• Children generally go through the same developmental milestones, just at a

different rate• Some impairments “may never interfere with developmental progress”

Children “At Risk”

• Problems are likely to develop; a prospect for healthy development, especially with early intervention• Risk factors may be biological and/or environmental• The more risk factors, the higher the incidence and prospect of

longterm disabilities• Risk factors may or may not be chronic

Risk Factor Examples

• Biological• Premature births• Genetic and hereditary disorders

• Environmental• Poverty• Abuse and neglect• Poor living conditions• Lack of healthcare

Resiliency and Vulnerability

• Children with resilience factors are better able to bounce back from difficult experiences• Children who are vulnerable are more likely to be impacted negatively

by difficult experiences

Children with Gifts and Talents

• While most children have some of the characteristics listed on p. 93 in your text, the children who are gifted and talented exhibit many of the characteristics listed• Children who are gifted and talented are not necessarily ahead of

other children their age in all developmental domains• Many gifted and talented children from minority groups or from

impoverished circumstances are not likely to be identified• Children who have developmental disabilities may be gifted and

talented, but they are less likely to be identified.