Planning for Activities That Allow For Differences, Preferences and Abilities

Each child is a unique person with an individual pattern of timing and growth. Children also have individual personalities, temperaments, learning styles, experiences, and family and cultural backgrounds. A developmentally appropriate program adapts for inevitable individual variation among children. This is done by providing a variety of materials and activities that support children's individuality and meet their developmental levels.

When planning activities for your center, please keep in mind that:

• The developmental range in a same-age group may be two years or more
• You may have individual children with other interests or skills outside the age range of the group
• You may have children with special needs who require modifications to the activities in order to do certain activities
• In addition, children differ in how comfortable they are with different activities. You will need to be sensitive to cultural and individual differences in your children's preferences and learning styles.
• Some children learn well by listening. Others need to do something before they understand fully.
• Some children can sit still for long periods of time. Others need to be free to move about.
• Some children want to be able to do an activity perfectly before sharing their accomplishment. Others are more comfortable with the trial and error approach.
• Some children are very outgoing and outspoken with adults. Others are uncomfortable when an adult is speaking to them or watching them.
• Some children do not like being told what to do. Others need to hear exactly what is expected of them.
• Some children play comfortably in a group. Others prefer to play alone.
• Some children cannot wait to crawl into your lap. Others are uncomfortable with being touched.

Childrens Temperament (1 hour / .1 CEU)

A Basic Approach to Communication with Children - 2 hours

Planning Activities for School Age Care - 2.5 hours

Planning Activities Based on Children’s Needs  - 2 hours

A Simple Approach to Knowing the WAC's: Program Planning - 1.5 hours