Child Development: Behavior and Mental Health

It’s well known that childhood plays a significant role in the shaping of physically and mentally healthy adults. Positive social, environmental, and behavioral factors can contribute towards a child thriving in later life. However, not all children are the same: each requires a unique approach, and it’s imperative that the role of individual identity development within supportive environments is recognized.

Study child psychology from this important perspective in the Child Development: Behavior and Mental Health online short course, designed by child development experts from the Stanford Center for Health Education (SCHE), part of Stanford Medicine. By capitalizing on each child’s personal interests and motivations, you'll learn to create a space that fosters positive interactions and optimal learning. Over the course of six weeks, you’ll look at practical, science-based approaches to encourage a child’s innate learning abilities, and positive behavioral discipline techniques to prevent and address children acting out. You’ll also explore the impact of parenting and grasp the importance of a child’s social connection with adults and peers. Lastly, the course examines the steps you can take to support a child’s mental health, in order to help them develop in a healthy and happy way.