UNIT 02 SUPPORT THE HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN

CANDIDATE NAME: ALINA BUCSA

CREDIT : 3

1.1. Explain what the term holistic development means.

Understanding how children develop is an important obligation for all those who work in early years
practise. Practitioners need to develop an understanding of the implications of children's
developmental processes in order to meet individual needs. The key to this understanding is the
development of skills in observing children and of interpreting those observations.
Holistic development in children focuses on addressing all of the needs of a childs life:
emotional, physical, relational, intellectual, creative and spiritual. This perspective to development
encourages caregivers and teachers to look at the child as a whole and not focus on the individual
parts.

1.2. Describe the benefits of promoting childrens holistic development.

Young children develop holistically. They need support in health, nutrition, care, protection, early
stimulation and learning. The development and learning goals of young children are therefore multidimensional. They are achieved when young children survive and become physically healthy,
mentally alert, emotionally secure, socially competent, able to learn, culturally and spiritually aware
and aesthetically creative. They grow up to become responsible and productive adults. Thus holistic
development of young children is both the aspiration and guiding principle of early childhood
interventions, and a key determinant of national development. Childrens early experiences can either
augment or inhibit their overall development, depending on their access to, and the quality of,
nutrition and health services, family and community care practices, learning opportunities and
protection. They need support from multiple sectors. Such support impacts not only on children
themselves, but also on the environments in which children live and which, in turn, influence on
childrens development.
All children develop differently, but the stages they pass through are broadly the same. If you
work with children of the same age, you will start to recognise similarities in their levels of
development. This will help you to identify those children who are working at a significantly higher
or lower level than others in the group. The pattern of childrens development falls into different
areas, although many of these are interlinked.
A holistic approach to child development seeks to simultaneously address the physical,
emotional, relational, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of a child's life. The importance of the Holistic
Approach is that it Children learn different things at different stages, e.g. walking, talking, fine motor
skills etc. Holistic development is the overall development of all areas of development in children.
Cognitive and neurological development refer to the development of the mind. Between birth
and the age of 5 years, babies and childrens brains will undergo the most rapid changes.
Speech, language and communication development refers to the way in which children start to
understand and process language so that they can communicate with others. The first five years of life
are crucial as children start to make sense of the world and their place in it. In our setting/practice we
should be looking at all the areas of development in the child, for example: physical, emotional,
intellectual and social should all be considered when providing care.
Physical development covers sensory as well as fine and gross motor skills. Children will
develop at their own rate so many of these key points such as learning to crawl and walk, and in
particular potty or toilet training, will depend on the childs readiness.
Literacy and numeracy development Children will be developing their literacy and numeracy
skills rapidly during this period. They will be able to read and write on their own and structure well
formed sentences. Their counting skills will be developed and they will be able to count money and
tell the time.
So, holistic refers to the total experience - every sense absorbs information from the moment we are
born and we compile the information in our brains and gradually piece it all together to achieve
learning. The various aspects of development are intricately linked: each affects and is affected by the
others.
Through play, the holistic development of the child is encouraged. This includes their
emotional development, the forming and development of social relationships, intellectual and creative
stimulation, the opportunity to explore both their culture and creativity and to physically progress.
Play is vital to childrens all-round development. Play provides opportunities for children to: develop
confidence, self-esteem and a sense of security, realise their potential and feel competent, use
creativity and imagination, develop reading,
2

thinking and problem-solving skills as well as motor skills, learn how to control their emotions, and
understand and interpret the world around them, learn relationship and social skills, and develop
values and ethics. If a child is delayed in one area of development, all other areas are affected too.
Improving one skill in a child will improve other skills automatically, so playing ball improves spatial
coordination, eye to hand coordination, concentration, balance, also teaching about gravity and the
control of strength. Children are developing in all kinds of ways all at the same time. Reading is
associated with writing and writing is associated with maths. So whilst doing the one, you are actually
strengthening the other at the same time. Learning is not just pinned under one area example: a maths
activity may not just promote maths it may also promote language and depending on what you do it
may also promote physical, creative, social & emotional and development. When children develop it
isn't just little bits and pieces, they are developing many skills together, a child tying knots in string is
not just experimenting through touch, they are also learning concentration and using their eyes. Child
survival, growth and development, has to be looked at as a holistic approach, as one cannot be
achieved without the other.

1.3. Explain the importance of childrens holistic development of speech , language and
communication, personal, social and emotional development and physical development.
Different aspects of childrens development are interlinked and co-dependent, so they will each be
important to the childs holistic development. Childrens overall development and educational needs
will be affected by the way in which they develop in key areas. As children grow and pass different
milestones or key points, they will gradually become more independent and less reliant on those
around them in preparation for the future.
The three key areas of childrens development are personal, social and emotional, physical,
and speech and language development the Early Years Foundation Stage document refers to them as
the three prime areas, (speech and language is communication and language in the EYFS
framework document). If children are slower to develop in these areas, further development in other
areas such as literacy and numeracy will take longer to achieve.
Speech, language and communication
This aspect of development is important for childrens holistic development. Through the
development of speech and language, children will learn to socialise and express their preferences and
their needs, and be able to make sense of the world. In turn the ability to communicate will support
the development of their confidence and self-esteem. It is important that young children have as much
opportunity as possible not only to listen to others but also to put their own language skills to use.
Adults should make sure that young children are given praise when they achieve as well as frequent
feedback.
Children who have limited speech and language skills will have corresponding difficulties in
expressing themselves, which in turn may lead to frustration, poor understanding, inability to express
themselves and limited social skills.
Personal, social and emotional development
This aspect of childrens development is related to their confidence and self-esteem. Babies
and children need to have positive interactions and form firm attachments from the earliest stages, and
feel reassured emotionally by the adults around them. Children who are given praise, encouragement
and guidance as they grow will develop a greater sense of self-worth. Children will in turn be able to
form positive relationships and friendships with their peers through their interactions.

Physical development
As well as physical growth, this aspect involves childrens health, physical strength, mobility
and sensory abilities. They will need to have opportunities to exercise and develop both fine and gross
motor skills so that they can gain full control over their muscles. The more opportunities children
have to develop muscular strength and physical skills, the greater their stamina. Some children may be
limited by a physical condition or disability, or have a sensory impairment which hinders their
progress.
References

Penny Tassoni, Kate Beith, Kath Bulman, Sue Griffin, Children & Young Peoples Workforce,
Early Learning & Childcare, Level 3, 2010, pg 184-209
Penny Tassoni, Child Care and Education, Level 2, 3rd Edition, 2007,
https://books.google.ro/books?id=JlOF2ZgPGC4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:
%22Penny+Tassoni
%22&hl=ro&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiR2prywMbPAhVCD8AKHS2kCdkQ6AEIMjAD&authuser=1#v
=onepage&q&f=false

Carolyn Megitt, Tina Bruce, Childcare & Education, Early Years Educator, 2010, pag 283-321
Level 2 Certificate Supporting Teaching & Learning in Schools
https://www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/FEAndVocational/Childcare/NVQSVQCYPW/N
VQSVQSupportingTeachingandLearning/Samples/Level2STaLISsamplematerial/Level2Supporti
ngTeachingandLearninginSchoolsUnitTDA24samplematerial.pd
fhttps://www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/FEAndVocational/WorkBasedLearning/Ch
ildcareandTeachingAssistants/StandaloneProducts/PearsonEdexcelL3CLDCandidateHandb
ook/Sample-material/Level-3-Diploma-in-Childrens-Learning-and-Development-Unit-1sample-material.pdf
Early Years Foundation Stage, 2008
http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2011/10/EYFS_Practice_Guide1.pdf