Child Development

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two girls smiling over a project

Child Development

This 4-H project is designed to help you explore the world of child development. From discovering how children develop to creating safe places to grow to learning leadership skills, you are bound to love all the opportunities available with child development projects!

  • Learn basic skills needed as babysitters, adults, and potential parents
  • Identify characteristics of children ages birth to six
  • Discover more about yourself and others

Ideas for Project Area Learning!

  • Investigate ways people grow (mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically)
  • Observe how people express emotions
  • Learn about responsibility and self-motivation
  • Identify home safety hazards
  • Learn to plan fun and safe home-alone activities
  • Sort and select age-appropriate toys for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers
  • Identify children’s strengths and talents to work effectively in teams
  • Explore careers in the child development field and job shadow professionals
  • Study a public building to evaluate accessibility for persons with disabilities
  • Observe a child’s physical, cognitive, emotional and social skills

Project Area Events

Project Helpers

Iowa 4-H Contact

Nicole Hanson

nhanson@iastate.edu

Share What You Learn With Others!

Communication

  • Read books or stories you have written to younger children
  • Create a puppet show to teach children street smart safety tips
  • Visit with Clover Kids members about their county fair projects

Citizenship

  • Collect puzzles, games, and toys for a local child care center
  • Create and deliver a coupon booklet with things you will do with a child
  • Assess the safety of a community playground and work for changes

Leadership

  • Organize a toy drive and donate items to children in the community
  • Volunteer in your community to help with 4-H educational Clover Kids activities
  • Create a family job chart

Exhibit Ideas

  • Create a display of a choke-tube tester and toys that are safe and unsafe
  • Illustrate how to make a Family Job Chart
  • Showcase a book you have written, illustrated, and shared with children
  • Rate the safety and appropriateness of various toys for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers
  • Show how to inspect a home using a home safety checklist
  • Illustrate accommodations that could be needed for a child with a disability to participate in a classroom or child care center
  • Prepare a poster showing the pros and cons of a discipline technique