Child and Adolescent Psychology
PSYC 2600
First Written Assignment – Learning Module Activity
This short assignment will provide you with an opportunity to evaluate educational products
for infants and toddlers that promote cognitive development and language development. You
can begin to transition to preschoolers because many toys and books are good for both
toddlers and preschoolers. Please select one topic, evaluate children’s toys or books, and
answer the questions for that topic. Be sure to support your paper with what the literature
states is appropriate for each domain of development: physical, cognitive, social, and
emotional. Your written assignment should be three or four typed pages, double-spaced and in
APA format for Psychology majors and MLA is acceptable for other majors.
Topic 1. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has a list of
recommendations for developmentally appropriate equipment and toys for infants and
toddlers. These include toys that are safe, washable, and too large for infants to swallow and
toys for the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development from infancy to early
childhood (preschoolers). Professionals responsible for setting the standards for preschool
educators, state that toys should not be sharp, tiny, or have chipped paint and they should be
responsive to children’s actions (e.g., balls, blocks, squeaky toys). They also state that toys
should be located on low, open shelves for easy access by the child (Bredekamp, 1997;
Bredekamp, 2011; Gonzalez-Mena, 2007).
Research – You are responsible for purchasing indoor toys for the infant and toddler room at a
child-care center. You are also responsible for finding educational toys for the children
attending preschool at the center. Create a list of developmentally appropriate toys that should
be included in both rooms and explain how these toys address the three domains of
development for infants, toddler and preschoolers. What kinds of toys should not be included?
Why? Present support for your recommendations using the literature related to appropriate
toys for early development and our textbook.
See for yourself – You may walk through a local department or toy store with your list of toys.
Based on your findings during the research of children’s toys, what are the characteristics of
safe and educational toys? How safe and appropriate are the toys currently on the market?
How do the toys you found promote the physical, cognitive and/or emotional and social
development of young children? Based on the toys you found during your “See for yourself”
portion of the assignment, what toys would be considered unsafe or inappropriate for infants
and toddlers? What toys would be considered unsafe or inappropriate for preschoolers?
Topic 2. Research – You are responsible for purchasing books for the infant and toddler room
and for children in early childhood attending the preschool at a child-care center. Create a list
of developmentally appropriate books that should be included in both rooms and explain how
these books address the three domains of development for infants, toddler, and preschoolers.
What kinds of books should not be included? Why? Present support for your recommendations
using the literature related to appropriate books for early development and our textbook.
See for yourself – Evaluate two or three books suitable for infants, toddlers and preschoolers
from a bookstore, toy store and/or children’s library. What is the content covered in each
book? Are the books suitable for infants and toddlers? (Explain your answer) Are the books
suitable for preschoolers? (Again, explain your answer) Are they made from durable material?
Are they action oriented and gender neutral? What types of illustrations are used? How do the
books promote physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development? How does the book
promote language development? What do you believe makes a “good” book for children? Be
sure to use examples from the book you review to help address the questions. Bredekamp, S.
(2011). Effective practices in early childhood education: Building a foundation. Pearson
Publishing, Merrill. Bredekamp, S. & Copple, C. (1997). Developmentally appropriate practice in
early childhood programs. Washington, D.C.: NAEYC. Gonzalez-Mena, J. & Eyer, D. (2007).
Infants, toddlers, and caregivers (7th Ed.) New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
