Introduction
Child development includes several interrelated categories, including play, family/environmental, socioemotional, cognitive/intellectual, and physical/neurological development. This essay aims to evaluate the developmental aspects of four kids who are seen in a video jumping and having fun on a trampoline. Three kids—two girls aged 7-8, a boy aged 6, and the youngest, a girl aged 3–4—are being observed. It is possible to have a thorough knowledge of how they developed across different categories by analyzing their activities and interactions, especially about each other.
Physical/Neurological development
In early adolescence, the body undergoes more developmental change than at any other time, from birth to two years old. Physical development includes the maturity of the nervous system and the gradual improvement of motor abilities, which allow kids to participate in various physical activities (Berk, 2022). The children can be seen actively jumping and playing on a trampoline in the observed video, which is suggestive of prospects for developing gross motor abilities. These abilities include the strength, balance, and coordination required to do the task successfully (Berk, 2022). Taking part in physical development activities like trampoline jumping has several advantages. It necessitates combining several motor skills, such as jumping, bouncing, and landing, which improves coordination and body control.
Additionally, the repetitive nature of trampoline activity encourages the development of muscle strength and endurance and the improvement of movement patterns. Given their age range, it is feasible to expect a variety in the children’s motor ability competency. Compared to the youngest child, who is 3–4 years old, the older children, who are between the ages of 7-8, are likely to have more developed motor abilities (Rodriguez-Ayllon et al., 2019). Older children frequently exhibit increased control, precision, and efficiency in their motions, consistent with the general trajectory of motor skill acquisition (Berk, 2022). That is why one can observe that older children fall less often compared to the younger two.
Socioemotional Development
Socioemotional development plays a significant role in a child’s overall well-being. The term refers to understanding and controlling emotions, acquiring social skills, and building deep relationships with others (Hoemann, Xu & Barrett, 2019). The video only provides a glance into the kids’ socio-emotional development, but their conversations and actions reveal essential information about this area. The children’s collaboration, taking turns, and empathy toward one another can be seen in the film. It is seen that while jumping, children are careful in each other’s space, especially ensuring the youngest one is safe. These behaviors indicate the children’s growing emotional intelligence and social competence (Hoemann, Xu & Barrett, 2019). In other words, these activities display their ability to successfully negotiate social settings and communicate with others, two fundamental elements of socio-emotional development.
The ability to recognize and control one’s emotions while also considering other people’s feelings is a crucial component of socio-emotional development. The children’s ability to control their anger and healthily express their emotions is depicted in the movie, which is a sign of their socioemotional growth (Hoemann, Xu & Barrett, 2019). However, the youngest girl is still developing in this regard because, towards the end of the video, she starts crying without explaining why. In response, the child’s mother asks the girl to express her frustration in words. This shows that younger children have less control over their emotions than older children. The older kids show their growing emotional intelligence and capacity to handle social relationships by skillfully negotiating difficult situations and expressing their emotions in socially acceptable ways.
Cognitive/Intellectual Development
The steady development of children’s thinking, problem-solving, language, and memory capacities is called cognitive or intellectual development. Piaget’s theory of cognitive development states that children between the ages of 7-8 improve their ability to think critically and solve problems (Sanghvi, 2020). These kids go into the concrete operational stage, marked by the capacity for logical thought, an understanding of conservation, and an understanding of ideas like classification and seriation. Given that the two older kids in the movie are between these ages, it is reasonable to assume they will exhibit cognitive abilities typical of this period.
The youngest child, however, would most certainly be in the preoperational stage at 3 to 4 years old. Symbolic representation and imaginative play are important aspects of this stage (Sanghvi, 2020). By allowing them to play imaginatively and think symbolically, physical activity, such as jumping on a trampoline, can enhance their cognitive development. For instance, the youngster might play pretend while jumping on the trampoline, visualizing themselves as various characters or acting out imaginative scenarios (Sanghvi, 2020). The process of cognitive development is intricate and varied, impacted by various variables, including heredity, environmental stimulation, and individual differences. Additionally, thorough cognitive evaluations that include measures of language development, problem-solving abilities, and memory capacity are often needed to assess cognitive capacities. The video, while somewhat educational, falls short of giving a full picture of the kids’ cognitive growth.
Play
Play is a key and complex element of young children’s development that supports their physical and mental development. The kids’ eager participation in jumping and playing on the trampoline in the video is an excellent example of how they engage in active, physical play. They can develop significantly in various ways thanks to this kind of play. According to Mildred Parten’s theory of play development, active or physical play includes activities that require movement, effort, and the exploration of physical prowess (Berk, 2022). This category is supported by the kids’ use of the trampoline, which allows them to hone their gross motor abilities, improve coordination, and gain a sense of body control (Santrock, Deater-Deckard, & Lansford, 2021). It is clear from the children’s vigorous play on the trampoline that they engage in activities that support physical development, social relationships, and perhaps even cognitive development. In all of its manifestations, play continues to be an important and guiding factor in children’s development, fostering their overall well-being and growth.
Family/Environment
A child’s entire development is significantly shaped by the family and environmental context in which they grow and develop. According to Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of moral development and Erik Homburger’s Erikson’s psychosocial theory, the family and environment substantially impact a child’s development (Santrock, Deater-Deckard, & Lansford, 2021). A child’s development is influenced by several nested environmental systems, with the family acting as the most immediate and significant setting (Berk, 2022). To shape a child’s development, Erikson’s psychosocial theory highlights the significance of social and emotional interactions that take place within the family and wider environment (Santrock, Deater-Deckard, & Lansford, 2021). At the same time, according to Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, a child’s family and environment significantly impact how they think morally and perceive good and wrong (Santrock, Deater-Deckard, & Lansford, 2021). Supportive family members provide a caring and safe foundation for the child’s development. These caregivers are crucial in helping the kids achieve a sense of identity and attachment by attending to their physical, emotional, and social needs.
In conclusion, the videotape of kids having fun on a trampoline can be used to evaluate how children develop physically, neurologically, socioemotionally, intellectually, playfully, and about their families and environments. The kids’ participation in physical activities aids in developing their gross motor skills, and their interactions show the kids’ socio-emotional development. Based on their ages and involvement in active play, it is possible to deduce their cognitive capacities and stage of play development. The family and surrounding environment greatly influence their whole growth. Even though the analysis is based on a fictitious situation, it emphasizes how interwoven and multifaceted child development is.
References
Berk, L. E. (2022). Development through the lifespan. Sage Publications.
Hoemann, K., Xu, F., & Barrett, L. F. (2019). Emotion words, emotion concepts, and emotional development in children: A constructionist hypothesis. Developmental psychology, 55(9), 1830. Web.
Rodriguez-Ayllon, M., Cadenas-Sánchez, C., EstĂ©vez-LĂłpez, F., Muñoz, N. E., Mora-Gonzalez, J., Migueles, J. H.,… & Esteban-Cornejo, I. (2019). Role of physical activity and sedentary behavior in the mental health of preschoolers, children, and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports medicine, 49(9), 1383-1410. Web.
Santrock, J. W., Deater-Deckard, K. D., & Lansford, J. E. (2021). Child development: An introduction (15th ed.). ‎McGraw Hill.
Sanghvi, P. (2020). Piaget’s theory of cognitive development: a review. Indian Journal of Mental Health, 7(2), 90-96. Web.