Working with Children

This unit is designed to help the student develop a framework for understanding the concepts, theories and issues involved in working with children. The student is encouraged to understand the world of the child from a variety of theoretical and developmental perspectives and to develop strategies and techniques that will enhance communication and counselling skills in dealing with children.

Learning Outcomes

  • Use terms and concepts for working with children
  • Identify the developmental stages in children
  • Identify sociological factors in children’s issues
  • Assess the role of parental issues in working with children
  • Identify common presenting problems in working with children
  • Demonstrate understanding of communication issues in working with children
  • Apply counselling skills and strategies to working with children

Content Areas

  • Children in Context
  • Child Development Theories
  • Personality and Social Development
  • Physical and Emotional Development
  • Sociological and Cultural Factors
  • Role of the Family
  • Parental/Caregiver Issues
  • Discipline and Dysfunctional Behaviour
  • Common Presenting Problems
  • Child Abuse
  • Part 1: Counselling Strategies
  • Part 2: Counselling Strategies

Unit Duration and Workload

This unit involves a total of 36 hours of face to face delivery or self directed study including educator contact in flexible delivery modes, generating a further 54 hours of self-study per unit including research and related study activities, including assessment. This translates to 7.5 hours per week for the unit.