A Child Panel to Facilitate the Instruction of Child Development

Abstract

This classroom activity enables college students to synthesize theoretical constructs of child development by providing students with an opportunity to interact with children who are invited to visit the classroom to serve as members on a panel. Following a panel discussion, students complete a written assignment relating their observations of the children to information provided in the textbook and class lectures. Students are also required to locate a relevant journal article and compare this material to their observations during the panel. This activity is appropriate for any class size.