Childhood growth and living conditions (8cr)

Objective

Students will be able to name factors that influence children's functional capacity and social engagement from the perspectives of growth, development and learning. Students will be able to name factors that contribute to good family life and ensure continuity of everyday life and factors that may cause distress and need for support in Finnish families. Students will learn where to seek knowledge of factors that influence the welfare of children and their families. Under supervision, students will also reflect on their values and attitudes and on their action in the workshop.

Content

- Theories on childhood
- Factors that influence children's growth, development and learning
- Factors that affect the welfare of children and their families
- Family, day care and foster care as growth environments for children
- Need for extensive support
- Need for child protection
- Ethical aspects

Qualifications

Major part of the first years study courses in the degree programme. Practical field period: Social services providing social security.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Grade 1-2:
Students are able to name factors that influence children's functional capacity and social engagement from the perspectives of growth, development and learning. Students are able to name factors that contribute to good family life and ensure continuity of everyday life and factors that may cause distress and need for support in Finnish families. Students know where to seek knowledge of factors that influence the welfare of children and their families. Under supervision, students are able reflect on their values and attitudes and on their action in the workshop.
Grade 3-4:
Students are able to explain factors that influence children's functional capacity and social engagement from the perspectives of growth, development and learning. Students are able to observe, explain and seek knowledge of factors that contribute to good family life and ensure continuity of everyday life and factors that may cause distress and need for support in Finnish families at the levels of the individual, community and society. Students are able reflect on their values, attitudes and actions from the perspective of professional ethics.
Grade 5:
Students are able to extensively analyse factors that influence children's functional capacity and social engagement from the perspectives of growth, development and learning. Students are able to extensively assess factors that contribute to good family life and ensure continuity of everyday life and factors that may cause distress and need for support in Finnish families at the levels of the individual, community and society. Students are able to make observations, to acquire knowledge with a critical and analytical eye and to reflect on their conceptions on childhood from multiple perspectives. Students are also able to look at and reflect on their values, attitudes and actions critically and constructively from multiple perspectives and with professional ethics.

Materials

- Lapsivaltuutetun vuosikirja 2014. Eriarvoistuva lapsuus. Lasten hyvinvointi kansallisten indikaattoreiden valossa. Lapsiasiainvaltuutetun toimiston julkaisuja 2014:3.
Availability: http://tinyurl.com/m7u75gj
Saatavana myös verkkojulkaisuna.

- Kronqvist, E?L.& Pulkkinen, M?L. 2007. Kehityspsykologia. Matkalla muutokseen. WSOY, s.1?194
Availability: http://tiny.cc/aas9cx

- Varhaiskasvatuksen valtakunnallinen verkkopalvelu: www.thl.fi/kasvunkumppanit

- Varhaiskasvatussuunnitelman perusteet.2005.Oppaita 56.Stakes
Availability: http://tiny.cc/xes9cx

- Lastensuojelun ytimissä.2009. Bardy, M. (toim.)THL
Availabilty: http://tiny.cc/9gs9cx

- Rusanen, E. 2011. Hoiva, kiintymys ja lapsen kehitys. Finn Lectura.
Availability: http://tiny.cc/3ls9cx

- Lasten erityishuolto ja ?opetus Suomessa. 2012. Jahnukainen, M (toim.)Tampere:Vastapaino
Availability: http://tiny.cc/zps9cx

Teaching methods

Workshop: collaborative learning, activating lectures, visiting lecturers, group work and independent assignments based on literature, discussions, personal study journal. Preliminary assignment.

Further information

Choose one of the exam days