West Valley College 
Child Studies Department

Under Construction

CHS 005: 

CHILDHOOD AND CULTURE

 Course Description:

This course examines the influence of culture on the child's physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development and behavior. Race, socio-economic class, ethnicity and gender are explored. Cultures examined include: African American, Latino/Chicano, Japanese American, Chinese American, Vietnamese American, Native American, and Middle Eastern.

Course Outcomes:

1. The major objective of this course is to enable students to increase knowledge and understanding of the role of race, ethnicity, social class and gender on the development and behavior of children.
2. Articulate a cultural perspective in the study of child development and behavior.
3. Discuss of identify the influences of race, ethnicity, gender, and social class on the development and behavior of children.
4. Identify and analyze ethnocentric bias and stereotype on the development and behavior of children.
5. Research and assess the influence of sex-role stereotype on development and behavior within and across cultures.
6. Demonstrate and articulate cultural sensitivity in the analysis of children's behavior.
7. Observe and assess adult-child interactions, learning environments and experiences from a multicultural perspective.
8. Demonstrate knowledge of the universalities, similarities and variations in children from diverse cultures and socio-economic environments.

Course Content:

Introduction

1. Concepts relevant to the study of cultural influences on development and behavior.
2. Universalities, diversities, similarities, and individual differences in child development and behavior.

Cultural influences on psychosocial development.

1. Cultural and socio-economic class variations in infant care; issues of temperament and environmental interaction.
2. Socio-cultural beliefs and expectations; influences of the mothering role and the fathering role on development and behavior
3. Socio-cultural influences on the socialization of sex-role development
4. Gender differences in psychosocial behavior: aggression, achievement, motivation and independence.
5. Play experiences of children in diverse socio-economic and cultural environments.
6. Socialization of self-control / self-direction.
7. Stressors and resilience in the psychosocial development of minority children

Cultural influences on language and thought.

1. Socio-economic cultural context of cognitive development: influences of child-rearing practices and cognitive abilities.
2. Bilingualism / Biculturalism and the development of cognitive competence.
3. Oral traditions within cultures; implications for language, literacy and cognitive development.
4. Gender, race, social class, ethnicity and cognitive development.

Motor and physical development.

1. Ethnic differences in infant behavior.

Cultural influences on aesthetic development.

1. Art expression of children from diverse cultures.

The socialization of cross-cultural competence

1. The role of learning environments on the development of cultural sensitivity, intercultural effectiveness, and ethnic competence.

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Copyright © 2001 West Valley College - Child Studies
Last modified: March 20, 2002