3 hrs.A special fee is charged for this course. (See SPECIAL FEES AND EXPENSES in this Bulletin.) The over-arching goals of this course are to explore optimal development in children and assess the impact of a child’s early years on life potential. Students will examine similarities and differences in conceptions of child development and connect these varying conceptual approaches to developmentally appropriate strategies. Emphasis will be on professional practice to effectively promote children’s development, including literacy and school readiness.