1. The role of children in a changing society. New demographic trends, changes in the family and the role of women, nurseries/daycare centres, the use of technology. 2. Life before birth: quality of life in utero, motor and sensory development of the foetus. Birth. Full-term newborns: postural and motor skills, perceptual abilities, the organisation of biological rhythms. The attachment process. 3. Breastfeeding. Individual differences in newborns. - The cognitive skills of the newborn and assessment tools. The communicative/interactive abilities of the newborn. 4. Structure and organisation of the central nervous system of the newborn. The expression, understanding and regulation of the emotions of the newborn. 5. Neuronal plasticity and the role of mirror neurons. Imitation as an educational and therapeutic tool. 6. The competent child: motor/praxic development, perceptual development. 7. The emotional and affective development and temperamental style of the child. 8. Development and regulation of biological rhythms: feeding and sleep in children. 9. Play as a therapeutic tool and the body as a mediator of communication with children. Individual differences in development. 10. Developmental theories in light of new knowledge and their impact on the habilitative/rehabilitative approach to developmental disorders.

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