4B013E - Understanding Child and Adolescent Development 01 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2032 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 4B013E
Module Title: Understanding Child and Adolescent Development
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Psychology and Therapeutic Interventions
Faculty Sub Group: Therapeutic Studies
Module Leader: Klara Price
Module Team: Victoria Markham, Emily Groves, Sarah Taylor, Alexis Jones, Kirsty Richards
First Intended Intake: SEP 2026 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100497 - psychology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2026
Valid To 31 Aug 2032

Module Aims

1. To provide students with an introduction to basic theoretical approaches to the development of children and young people.

2. To enhance students’ ability to apply theoretical approaches regarding development to practice when studying and working with children and young people.

3. To provide an overview of specific developmental domains and the factors impacting them in the context of typical child and adolescent development.

Content Summary

Get ready to explore how young minds grow, learn, and change!

In this exciting and interactive module, you'll dive into the fascinating world of child and adolescent development. From first words to moral reasoning, we’ll explore how children grow physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively — and what influences that growth.

You'll be introduced to key psychological theories (like cognitive, behavioural, and social approaches) and learn how to apply them to real-life situations using simulation videos and practical activities. Watch development in action and sharpen your observation skills by analysing real-world scenarios of children at different life stages.

We’ll also focus on building essential academic skills to help you thrive in your degree — like using academic resources, referencing, thinking critically, and working as part of a team. These will get you ready for your first assessment.

By the end of the module, you’ll have:

· A solid understanding of typical child and adolescent development

· Practical experience applying theory to real-life scenarios

· A solid foundation of academic skills that will support you throughout your degree

Whether you're aiming to work with children, or just want to understand how humans grow and learn — this module sets the foundation for your journey.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Scheduled Learning and Teaching 56
Guided Learning 10.5
Summative Assessment 60
Independent self-directed learning 173.5
Total Hours Selected 116

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Explain how basic theoretical approaches to development vary and how they can be applied when studying and working with children and young people in the context of typical development
LO2 Describe how various factors impact the developmental domains of children and young people.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio 1 Portfolio/ Asynchronous Assessment 0 3500 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Portfolio 1

Reading List

Week 1: Topic- Challenges and Resources in Development Hendry, L., & Kloep, M. (2002). Lifespan Development – Resources, Challenges and Risks. Thomson Learning.

Week 2-6: Topic- Developmental Theories Crowley, K. (2017). Child Development: A Practical Introduction (2nd Edition). London: Sage. Gillibrand, R., Lam, V., & O’Donnell, V. L. (2016). Developmental Psychology (2nd ed.). London: Pearson.Kail, R.V. (2016). Children and their development (7th ed.). London: Pearson.

Week 2-6: Topic- Developmental Domains Crowley, K. (2017). Child Development: A Practical Introduction (2nd Edition). London: Sage. Gillibrand, R., Lam, V., & O’Donnell, V. L. (2016). Developmental Psychology (2nd ed.). London: Pearson. Kail, R.V. (2016). Children and their development (7th ed.). London: Pearson.

Week 1-6: Topic- Academic Skills APA Referencing Guide USW Library Skills: Getting started - Library Skills - LibGuides at University of South Wales. USW Library Skills for BSc Childhood Development course

Week 7: Assessment week