The Behaviour Institute · Online Diploma
Diploma in Child Psychology
Understand how children think, feel and grow, and respond with more confidence and care at home, in the classroom and in professional practice.
Learn with Dr John Crimmins, a psychotherapist and international trainer with 25 years of clinical experience in CBT, addiction treatment, and trauma and crisis work.
- CPD Certified · London
- Study at your own pace
- Lifetime access
6 unitsA structured learning pathway
OnlineLearn wherever you are
Tutor supportAsk questions as you study
£395Single-payment course fee
Understanding the child
Look beyond the behaviour to the child behind it.
Children do not experience the world the way adults do. Their brains, emotions and reasoning are still developing, and behaviour is often the only way they can show what is going on inside.
This diploma explores how children develop from infancy through adolescence: how they form attachments, build a sense of self, manage emotions, learn right from wrong, and are shaped by their families and wider world. Each unit links current theory and research to real situations through examples and case studies.
Understand development
Explore how the developing brain, attachment and temperament shape a child at each stage.
Respond with confidence
Make sense of tantrums, lying and aggression, and use positive, age-appropriate approaches to discipline.
See the wider picture
Consider family change, siblings, peers, screens and stress, and recognise when a child may need more help.
Your tutor · Dr John Crimmins
Clinical experience. A practical approach.
Dr John Crimmins brings over 25 years of clinical experience to his teaching.
- Psychotherapist and CBT trainer, delivering face-to-face training in Ireland, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- Addiction treatment and harm reduction, including work with young people and families.
- Trauma and critical incident response, and clinical supervision.
- Qualifications from Trinity College Dublin and the Maudsley Hospital, London.
This experience informs his teaching, connecting psychological theory with the everyday realities of caring for and working with children.
A deeper understanding. A more confident response.
By completing the course, you will be able to:
- Explain how the developing brain shapes children's thinking, emotions and behaviour at each stage.
- Describe how attachment and early relationships influence later development.
- Support a child's self-esteem and emotional regulation.
- Understand what lies behind tantrums, lying, boasting and aggression, and respond effectively.
- Consider how separation, step-families, siblings and family change affect a child.
- Recognise early signs that a child may be struggling and know when to seek further help.
Who is this course for?
For anyone who works with or cares for children, including teachers, special needs assistants, early years and childcare staff, nurses, social workers, counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists.
It is equally suited to students of psychology, and to parents, foster carers and grandparents who want an evidence-based understanding of child development.
No formal educational qualifications are required.
The diploma is educational and does not replace individual assessment or treatment, or confer a professional licence to practise.
The curriculum
Six units to build your understanding.
Move through the material in sequence and revisit each topic whenever you need to.
Unit 1 · How children develop
- Stages of development from infancy to adolescence
- The developing brain: why children think and react differently from adults
- Piaget's stages of cognitive development
- Erikson's psychosocial stages
- Nature and nurture: how heredity and environment interact
- The role of play in learning and development
- Developmental milestones, and why children vary
Unit 2 · Attachment and relationships
- Secure and insecure attachment styles
- The parent's bond, the infant's bond and when bonding is disrupted
- Separation anxiety and the dependent child
- Transitional objects
- Childcare, working parents and attachment
- Attachment beyond the family: teachers, carers and key adults
- Adults' own separation fears: who is losing whom?
Unit 3 · Sense of self, identity and emotional development
- The developing self: from infant self-awareness to self-concept
- Self-esteem and encouraging a positive self-image
- The fragile self and how children protect it, including defence mechanisms
- Emotional development and learning to regulate emotions
- Gender development, gender stereotypes and the influence of the media
- Adolescence and identity: the toddler in the teen
Assignment 1 is submitted at the end of this unit.
Unit 4 · Temperament, behaviour and discipline
- The role of temperament: 'easy', 'difficult' and 'slow to warm up' children
- Goodness of fit between a child's temperament and the adults around them
- Parenting and caregiving styles, and the authoritative approach
- Discipline or punishment? Building self-discipline
- Why physical punishment is not recommended, and what works instead
- Understanding tantrums, lying, boasting, stealing, cheating, swearing and aggression
- Moral development: Piaget and Kohlberg
- Positive behaviour support at home and in the classroom
Unit 5 · Stress, resilience and children's mental health
- Childhood stress and how it shows up in behaviour
- Resilience, optimism and pessimism
- Common difficulties: anxiety, low mood, sleep problems and school refusal
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and an introduction to childhood trauma
- An introduction to neurodiversity: ADHD and autism
- Screens, social media and gaming
- Protecting young people against substance use
- Recognising warning signs and knowing when and where to refer
Unit 6 · Families and the child's social world
- The family as a system and the family life cycle
- Single-parent, step, blended and extended families
- Divorce and separation: helping children through change
- Sibling relationships, birth order and only children
- Friendships, peers and the school environment
- Culture, values and diversity in child-rearing
- An introduction to family therapy
- Caring for the carer, and exploring our own childhood as adults
Assignment 2 is submitted at the end of this unit.
Study that fits your life
Flexible learning, with support.
Online delivery
Work through reading materials, short videos and slide presentations in your own time.
Lifetime access means you can revisit the course without a completion deadline.
Two assignments
Submit one written assignment after Unit 3 and a second after Unit 6. Questions are available on your dashboard.
Your diploma is emailed after successful completion.
Expert tuition
Dr John Crimmins is available for questions about course content, helping you clarify ideas as you progress.
Study independently while staying connected to your tutor.
CPD Certified
Certified by the CPD Certification Service, London. Read about our accreditation.
Enrolment · Full payment
Pay once. Start learning today.
Enrol in the Diploma in Child Psychology and receive your login details by email once payment is received.
Option 1 · Single payment
Full course payment
One payment covers your course access, tutor support and your diploma on successful completion.
No hidden fees.
£395
single payment
Use the checkout below.
Diploma in Child Psychology
Understand how children think, feel and grow, and respond with more confidence and care.
£395
Buy now
This includes:
- Full course access
- Accredited course
- Start immediately
Enrolment · Monthly payments
Spread the cost over four months.
The same diploma, course materials and tutor support, with the fee paid in four monthly instalments.
Option 2 · Subscription
Four monthly payments
Pay £99 when you enrol, followed by three further monthly payments of £99.
Total payable: £396.
Access begins once your first payment is received.
£99
per month · 4 payments
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Your questions answered
Frequently asked questions
How is the course delivered?
Fully online through your student dashboard. Each unit includes reading material, short videos and slide presentations, and you study at your own pace.
How is the course assessed?
There are two written assignments, one at the end of Unit 3 and one at the end of Unit 6. The questions relate directly to the course material and are available on your dashboard.
Do I need previous qualifications?
No. The course is open to professionals, students, parents and carers. No formal educational qualifications are required.
Is this course suitable for parents?
Yes. Many students are parents, foster carers or grandparents. The course focuses on understanding children, so it is useful whether you care for children at home or work with them professionally.
Can I contact the tutor?
Yes. Dr John Crimmins is available for questions and discussion about the course content while you study.
How long do I have access?
You have lifetime access, with no deadline for completion. You can revisit the material whenever you need to.
What does the course cost?
£395 as a single payment, or four monthly payments of £99.
Does this diploma qualify me to practise independently?
No. The diploma is a CPD-certified educational qualification. It deepens your knowledge and supports your professional development, but it does not confer a licence to practise as a psychologist or therapist.
The Behaviour Institute · Online learning with Dr John Crimmins
