CHLD 354: The School-Aged Child

Purpose: to help other instructors teaching the same course

Common Course ID: CHLD 354
CSU Instructor Open Textbook Adoption Portrait

Abstract: This open textbook is being utilized in a child development course for undergraduate students by Dr. Lindsey Nenadal at California State University, Chico. The open textbook provides students with comprehensive information on the various domains of development throughout the school-aged years. The main motivation to adopt an open textbook was to provide students with free access to up-to-date materials in the field. Most students access the open textbook through links in our weekly Canvas modules. 

CHLD 354: The School-Aged Child

Brief Description of course highlights:  This class examines the physical, cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial aspects of growth during the school-aged years (ages 5 through 12), as well as contextual influences (e.g., family, school, peer group) on children's development. Particular attention is paid to the implications of developmental patterns for those who work with school-aged children. https://catalog.csuchico.edu/courses/chld 

Student population: 
Prerequisites: CHLD 252: Child Development or PSYC 355: Survey of Child and Adolescent Psychology

Majors include: Child Development, Liberal Studies, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, Communication and Science Disorders, and Pre-Nursing. 

Learning or student outcomes:  upon completion of this course focused on school-aged children, students will be able to: 

• understand major concepts and growth across developmental domains 
• describe relevant theories and concepts about development 
• explain how ecological contexts can impact children’s development
• use critical thinking to evaluate some of the research on and current issues that affect development 
• connect developmental concepts, theories, and research to a real-life context in a Service Learning Project
• share, revise, and build on your thinking, questions, and connections in various formats, including through written reflections, whole class and small group discussions, and academic writing

Textbook or OER/Low-cost Title: Child Growth and Development  

Brief Description:  While the book addresses development across childhood, several chapters focus specifically on middle childhood. This stage (roughly ages 6–11) is described as a period of steady growth, during which children become increasingly competent academically, socially, and emotionally. The text highlights key areas of development, including physical and brain development, cognitive growth, language and academic skills, peer relationships, emotional development and self-concept, moral development, and the influence of family, school, and culture. Overall, it presents middle childhood as a critical time for building and refining foundational skills.

Please provide a link to the resource - https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Early_Childhood_Education/Child_Growth_and_Development_(Paris_Ricardo_Rymond_and_Johnson) 

Authors: Paris, Ricardo, Rymond, and Johnson

Student access:  Links to the readings are provided in weekly Canvas modules.

Supplemental resources:  Here are some examples of some of the free supplemental resources I use in this class: 

• LibreTexts’ Child Development text: https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Courses/Lumen_Learning/Book%3A_Child_Development_(Lumen) 
• Child Mind Institute’s Thriving Kids Podcast: https://childmind.org/resources/podcast/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=thriving-kids-newsletter-2026-01-29&utm_content=podcast 
• Embrace Race: Ages & Stages: A Caregiver’s Guide to Supporting Children’s Racial Learning: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18OgNq2cH394RfLvQpYiuw6cisU3iVMI/view 
• TED Talk: The science behind how parents affect child development: https://www.ted.com/talks/yuko_munakata_the_science_behind_how_parents_affect_child_development 

Provide the cost savings from that of a traditional textbook.  Typical textbooks for this class are around $140.

License*: Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA) License

OER/Low Cost Adoption Process
Please provide an explanation or what motivated you to use this textbook or OER/Low Cost. The textbook previously in use was outdated, and no updated alternatives were available. Additionally, traditional textbooks can be costly. This option provided students with free access to current, relevant information on development throughout the school-aged years.

How did you find and select the open textbook for this course? I devoted significant time to identifying online resources that provide sufficient depth and breadth on development during the school-aged years. Although there is no single free online textbook dedicated exclusively to this stage, this resource offers comprehensive coverage of key developmental domains within this age range. When combined with supplemental materials, it effectively meets the needs of my students.

Sharing Best Practices:  When getting started with OER or low-cost materials, it’s not necessary to have everything fully finalized from the very beginning. Start with a resource that aligns well with your course goals and implement it on a trial basis. Over time, you can evaluate its effectiveness and make thoughtful adjustments. This might involve incorporating supplementary resources, exploring alternative OER options, or refining how materials are used to better support student learning.

Describe any challenges you experienced, and lessons learned. One common challenge is finding a single resource that fully meets all course needs. In my experience, no one text covered everything I was looking for. Instead, I selected a resource that addressed most key areas and supplemented it with additional free materials. This approach allowed for greater flexibility while still providing comprehensive coverage for students.

Instructor Name - Lindsey Nenadal
I am an associate professor in Child Development at California State University, Chico.

Please provide a link to your university page.
https://apps.csuchico.edu/directory/Employee/lnenadal
https://lnenadal.yourweb.csuchico.edu/about-dr-lindsey-nenadal

Please describe the courses/course numbers that you teach.
- CHLD 251: Observational Techniques
- CHLD 252: Child Development
- CHLD 354: The School-Aged Child
- CHLD 333W: Children's Gender and Sexuality Development
-  CHLD 492: Child Development Practice: Children and Families

Describe your teaching philosophy and any research interests related to your discipline or teaching.  Every college student deserves a high-quality education and the opportunity to grow in a supportive, challenging environment. I value building respectful connections with students and fostering an inclusive classroom that recognizes diverse perspectives. I emphasize a growth mindset, encouraging students to see challenges as part of learning. Through a balance of clear structure and flexibility, my goal is to support academic success while helping students develop confidence, independence, and critical thinking skills.

Inspired by my time as an elementary school teacher, my research focuses on examining challenges that many children face today, including natural disasters, issues of poverty, and biases in the school setting. My work has been published in journals including Early Childhood Research Quarterly, American Psychologist, and Journal of Social Issues. Find more information at https://lnenadal.yourweb.csuchico.edu/about-dr-lindsey-nenadal/