TEY_10_1_2020

“ ” “Development isn’t straightforward” …but, Laverne Antrobus tells TEY, having a grasp of child psychology can help early years practitioners go the extra mile to support those in their care… IT’S EASY TO TAKE CHILDHOOD development for granted, to view it as something that just happens , but the journey we all make from infancy to adulthood, via several crucial stages in between, is in truth incredibly complex. Our bodies are primed to grow according to the blueprint of our genes, the unique building blocks that influence who we are at a fundamental level, but what happens to us during that process also has a profound impact on the people we become, and the route we take to get there. From the food we’re given to eat and the opportunities and experiences we enjoy, to the attitudes of our carers and the relationships we form with siblings, friends and educators – not to mention the unexpected events that the unpredictable world we live in may throw at us – the factors in play are myriad. Unavoidably, this sometimes means that problems arise. When they do, unravelling the complexities in order to address them effectively is the task of specialists like Laverne Antrobus, a consultant child and educational psychologist at The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust (and an expert contributor to TV shows such as Channel 4’s The Secret Life of 4 and 5 Year Olds , amongst others). “What I’m trying to do is to use my knowledge and experience to think about what is ordinary development in children,” she says of her role. “That’s in a number of areas: psychological, emotional, physical, their learning – all of the characteristics we would say make up a fully rounded individual, someone who gets some things right but also has some challenges, because without the challenges you don’t actually grow.” That last point is key, as Laverne explains: “The truth is that development isn’t straightforward; we have some markers in terms of how we expect children to grow up and succeed, but they move backwards and forwards, and there are certain things that children are supposed to experience as part of their learning – getting frustrated, not being able to share, being slightly overzealous in their play – in order for them to learn how to manage in adulthood.” It’s a varied role, and a vital one – both in terms of the difference it can make to those who need support and what it can tell educators about how best to teach and care for all children. Early development “I think seeing it in action was the point at which my interest in children’s development and learning really took off,” Laverne tells us, recalling two educational placements she undertook while studying for her Psychology degree. “I thought, How do I get into this? How do I have something to do with it ?” After graduating she spent three years as a primary school teacher, before completing her Masters in Teachearlyyears.com 29