Childhood and Growing Up | BEd Free Study Material | Download BEd Book
Childhood and Growing Up is one of the core foundational papers in the Bachelor of Education (BEd) curriculum. It lays the groundwork for understanding the learner—their psychology, development, and the factors that shape their growth. For every aspiring teacher, this paper is not just a syllabus requirement; it is the key to becoming an effective, empathetic, and impactful educator. Recognizing the need for accessible, high-quality resources, Jobshints.com provides completely free study material for this essential BEd paper, available for direct download.
This comprehensive guide covers the complete syllabus, from educational psychology and the nuances of growth and development to the complexities of adolescence, learning, motivation, intelligence, creativity, and personality. Students who master this material build a strong theoretical foundation that supports their teaching practice and helps them excel in BEd examinations and teaching aptitude tests.
Table of Contents
Overview of Childhood and Growing Up BEd Study Material
The “Childhood and Growing Up” study material provided by Jobshints.com is a thoughtfully curated resource that covers the entire syllabus prescribed by major Indian universities for BEd programs. It is structured into seven clear units, each breaking down complex psychological and developmental theories into digestible, exam-focused notes.
The main units included in the book are:
Unit I: Educational Psychology – Growth and Development
Unit II: Understanding Adolescent Learner
Unit III: Learning
Unit IV: Motivation
Unit V: Intelligence
Unit VI: Creativity
Unit VII: Personality
Each unit begins with clear objectives and an introduction to the topic. Concepts are explained in simple language, followed by key points, definitions, and distinctions (such as growth vs. development, intelligence vs. creativity). This structured format ensures students first grasp the theoretical concept and then understand its application in the classroom context.
Download the Free BEd Book – Childhood and Growing Up below:
| Resource | Download Link |
|---|---|
| Complete Book – Childhood and Growing Up | Download Free BEd Book (PDF) |
Click the link above to access the direct download. The PDF contains all seven units, covering the entire syllabus. This resource is completely free and can be saved to your device for offline study, printed for personal use, or shared with fellow BEd students.
Importance of Childhood and Growing Up for BEd Students
The Childhood and Growing Up paper is not just another exam to pass. It is the psychological and philosophical bedrock of teacher education. Its importance lies in several key areas:
It bridges theory and practice. Understanding how a child grows and develops enables a teacher to design age-appropriate lessons, set realistic expectations, and respond to student behavior with empathy rather than frustration.
It explains the learner. Every classroom is a mix of diverse individuals. This paper unpacks the sources of individual differences—biological, cognitive, social, emotional—and equips teachers to address varied learning needs.
It informs classroom management. Knowledge of motivation theories, attention spans, and developmental stages helps teachers create engaging, well-paced lessons and manage student behavior constructively.
It is essential for competitive exams. Topics from this paper—learning theories, intelligence, personality, motivation—are repeatedly asked in teaching eligibility tests like CTET, UGC NET, and state TET exams.
Students who thoroughly study this material find both their BEd examinations and their teaching practice significantly easier and more rewarding.
Unit-Wise Conceptual Clarity
Unit I: Educational Psychology – Growth and Development
This unit establishes the foundation. It begins with the meaning and branches of psychology, narrowing down to educational psychology and its purpose in teaching-learning. The core distinction between growth (quantitative, physical) and development (qualitative, holistic) is explained with clarity. Key processes of human development—physical, cognitive, social, emotional—are outlined. The concept of individual differences is introduced through biological, psycho-analytical, and cognitive lenses. Cognitive development, attention factors (span, inattention, distraction), and concept formation are discussed. This unit answers the fundamental question: How do children grow and learn?
Unit II: Understanding Adolescent Learner
Adolescence is a period of storm and stress, but also of tremendous potential. This unit focuses exclusively on the adolescent learner. It breaks down development during this stage into five domains: physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and moral. The nature of adolescence and the powerful influence of peer factors are examined. Behavioral patterns are analyzed in terms of motivation, attitude, and the development of self-concept. Crucially, this unit also equips student-teachers with methods to study learner behavior—observation, interview, experimentation, and case study. This unit answers: What is happening inside the mind and body of an adolescent, and how do I understand them?
Unit III: Learning
Learning is the core business of schools. This unit provides a comprehensive overview of how learning occurs. It covers the major types of learning: trial and error, classical conditioning (Pavlov), operant conditioning (Skinner), and Gestalt theory (insight learning). It then moves to major theories of development—cognitive (Piaget), psycho-social (Erikson), moral (Kohlberg), psycho-sexual (Freud), and emotional (Goleman). Factors affecting learning, common learning problems, and strategies to enhance learning skills are discussed. The transfer of learning, the processes of remembering and forgetting, and Ebbinghaus’s curve of forgetting are explained. This unit answers: How do children learn, and why do they sometimes forget?
Unit IV: Motivation
Motivation is the engine of learning. This unit defines motivation and distinguishes between intrinsic and extrinsic motives. Major theories are explained in detail: Hull’s drive reduction theory, Maslow’s need hierarchy (from basic physiological needs to self-actualization), and McClelland’s achievement motivation (need for achievement, power, and affiliation). The concepts of fear of failure and hope of success are examined. The unit then brings theory into the classroom, discussing practical strategies for motivation, the effects of praise and blame, rewards and punishment, and the concept of level of aspiration. This unit answers: What drives a student to learn, and how can a teacher ignite that drive?
Unit V: Intelligence
Intelligence is one of the most debated topics in psychology. This unit clarifies the nature of intelligence and traces the evolution of its theories. It begins with single factor theory (Spearman’s g), moves to two factor theory, and then to multifactor theory (Thorndike). Guilford’s Structure of Intellect (SOI) model, which categorizes intelligence across three dimensions—operations, content, and products—is explained in an accessible manner. Individual differences in intelligence, the normal distribution of IQ scores, and the uses and limitations of intelligence tests are discussed. This unit answers: What is intelligence, how is it measured, and how is it distributed across learners?
Unit VI: Creativity
Creativity is increasingly recognized as a critical 21st-century skill. This unit defines creativity and moves beyond the myth that it is a mystical, unteachable gift. It discusses methods for identifying creative pupils and draws a clear distinction between intelligence and creativity (a student can be highly intelligent but not highly creative, and vice versa). The concepts of convergent thinking (seeking one correct answer) and divergent thinking (generating multiple possibilities) are explained, along with latent thinking. The process of creativity—preparation, incubation, illumination, verification—is outlined, and practical strategies for fostering creativity in the classroom are provided. This unit answers: How is creativity different from intelligence, and how can teachers nurture it?
Unit VII: Personality
Every teacher encounters a classroom full of unique personalities. This unit provides a framework for understanding personality—its meaning, definitions, and major determinants (heredity, environment, culture, family). The theories of personality are covered, with special emphasis on Freud’s psychoanalytic theory (id, ego, superego; conscious, preconscious, unconscious). Assessment of personality is discussed, including projective techniques like the Rorschach Inkblot Test and Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). The concept of an integrated, healthy personality is presented as the goal of holistic development. This unit answers: What makes each child unique, and how can I understand and support different personalities?
Benefits of Free BEd Study Material PDF Download
Downloading the free Childhood and Growing Up BEd study material from Jobshints.com offers several practical advantages for BEd students.
Easy Access Anytime, Anywhere
Students can access the complete book on smartphones, tablets, or laptops. This allows flexible study schedules, quick revision during travel, and access even in remote areas with low internet connectivity.
Cost-Free Resource
BEd textbooks can be expensive. This resource is completely free, removing financial barriers and ensuring every student, regardless of their economic background, has access to high-quality study material.
Exam-Focused Content
The material is organized unit-wise, exactly as per university syllabi. Key concepts are highlighted, distinctions are clearly tabulated, and the language is straightforward—ideal for last-minute revision and exam writing.
Print on Demand
Students who prefer reading from physical books can easily download the PDF and print only the units they need, saving both money and paper.
Lifelong Reference
This material is not just for exams. It serves as a valuable reference during teaching practice, internship, and even in the early years of a teaching career.
Importance for Teaching Competitive Exams
The Childhood and Growing Up study material is not limited to BEd semester examinations. It is equally vital for aspirants appearing for teaching eligibility tests.
CTET and State TET: Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test and its state counterparts include significant weightage on child development and pedagogy. Questions on Piaget, Kohlberg, Erikson, Vygotsky, intelligence theories, learning theories, and motivation are directly covered in this material.
UGC NET Education: For those pursuing higher studies and lectureship, this material forms the core of Paper 2 and Paper 3 syllabus in Education.
BEd Entrance Exams: Aspirants preparing for admission into BEd programs will find the psychology and development content highly relevant.
Students who master these notes find themselves at a significant advantage in competitive exams.
How to Study Childhood and Growing Up Effectively
Merely downloading the PDF is not enough. A strategic approach is essential to master this paper.
Step 1: Understand the Weightage
Not all units carry equal marks. Intelligence, Learning, and Personality are typically high-weightage units. Motivation and Adolescence are also frequently asked. Plan your time accordingly.
Step 2: Create Distinction Tables
This paper is full of paired concepts that are often compared in exams: Growth vs. Development, Intelligence vs. Creativity, Convergent vs. Divergent Thinking, Classical vs. Operant Conditioning. Create clear tables with differences.
Step 3: Memorize Theorists and Their Work
Piaget (cognitive), Kohlberg (moral), Erikson (psycho-social), Freud (psycho-sexual), Maslow (hierarchy), Skinner (operant), Pavlov (classical), Guilford (SOI), Spearman (g factor). Associate each theorist with their specific contribution.
Step 4: Connect Theory to Classroom
Examiners increasingly ask application-based questions. For every theory, ask yourself: How would a teacher use this in the classroom? For example: How can Maslow’s hierarchy help a teacher understand a hungry or unsafe child? How can Kohlberg’s stages help in moral education?
Step 5: Practice Previous Year Questions
Download previous years’ question papers from your university. Identify repeated topics. Practice writing answers within time limits.
Step 6: Revise with Flowcharts
Create visual summaries for each unit. Flowcharts for theories, mind maps for developmental stages, and diagrams for the structure of intellect help in quick revision.
Step 7: Discuss and Teach
The best way to learn is to teach. Discuss these concepts with your peers. Try explaining Piaget’s stages to a friend. This will reveal gaps in your understanding.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Rote Memorization without Understanding
This paper is conceptual. Memorizing definitions without understanding the underlying processes leads to poor application in exam questions and zero retention for teaching practice.
Ignoring the Adolescent Unit
Many students focus heavily on general psychology and skip the dedicated unit on adolescence. This is a mistake. Questions on adolescence are frequent and carry high marks.
Confusing Theorists
Freud vs. Erikson, Pavlov vs. Skinner, Piaget vs. Kohlberg—students often mix up their theories. Create clear, separate flashcards for each theorist.
Neglecting Application-Based Questions
BEd examinations are moving away from “define and explain” to “a student is demotivated in class, how will you motivate her?” Practice answering such questions.
Relying Solely on One Source
While this free study material is comprehensive, cross-verifying with your university syllabus and attending lectures is essential.
Time Management Tips for BEd Students
BEd students often juggle theory classes, internship, lesson planning, and exam preparation simultaneously. Effective time management is crucial.
Divide your preparation into:
Concept Building (30% of time) — Reading and understanding each unit thoroughly.
Memorization (20% of time) — Learning theorists, stages, definitions, and distinctions.
Answer Writing Practice (30% of time) — Writing full-length answers under timed conditions.
Revision (20% of time) — Revisiting all units through flowcharts and notes.
Long-Term Professional Benefits
Mastering Childhood and Growing Up builds a foundation for:
Effective Teaching Practice — Understanding developmental stages helps you set realistic expectations for different age groups.
Classroom Management — Knowledge of motivation and personality helps you handle diverse learners with empathy.
Teacher Eligibility Exams — Direct questions in CTET, UPTET, REET, and other TET exams.
Higher Education — Essential base for MEd and UGC NET in Education.
Curriculum Development — Understanding the learner is the first step in designing effective curriculum.
Educational Counseling — Many teachers take up roles as academic counselors; this paper provides the foundational psychology.
Why This Free Study Material Should Be Your Primary Resource
There are many expensive guidebooks and coaching materials available. However, this free resource from Jobshints.com remains a reliable and accessible starting point. It provides:
Complete Syllabus Coverage — All seven units, no gaps.
Clear and Simple Language — Complex theories broken down for easy understanding.
Exam-Focused Presentation — Key points, distinctions, and important names highlighted.
Zero Financial Barrier — High-quality education democratized.
Once you have thoroughly understood the concepts from this material, you can confidently move to reference books by Aggarwal, Chauhan, and Mangal for deeper reading, and to previous year question papers for practice.
Childhood and Growing Up is not merely a BEd paper to be passed and forgotten. It is the lens through which effective teachers view their students. The free study material provided by Jobshints.com makes this essential knowledge accessible to every future teacher, regardless of their access to coaching or expensive textbooks.
By studying consistently, creating distinctions, memorizing theorists, connecting theory to practice, and revising thoroughly, BEd students can not only excel in their examinations but also become the compassionate, competent, and impactful teachers that our classrooms need.
This BEd book is not just a collection of notes—it is the beginning of a teacher’s journey toward understanding the beautiful, complex, and wonderful world of the child.