How to Get Into Child Psychology

How to Get Into Child Psychology

Discover how to get into child psychology with Skills Academy. Study flexible courses and gain the skills to work with children in childcare and education.

Child psychology is about understanding how children think, learn, and behave. If you enjoy working with children and want to help them grow, studying child psychology is a great choice. You can learn about child development, communication, and how to support children emotionally and mentally.

There are different ways to start learning about child psychology. You do not need matric to study some courses, and you can learn at your own pace. Skills Academy offers child psychology courses that will help you build the knowledge and skills needed to work with children.

A teacher showing alphabet flashcards to a child during a learning session, representing practical training at Colleges That Offer Child Psychology.

How to Become a Child Psychologist

A child psychologist helps children deal with emotions, learning challenges, and social issues. While formal psychology careers require advanced studies, you do not need a degree to work in child psychology-related fields. There are many roles where knowledge of child psychology is useful

, such as:

  • Daycare assistant – Work with young children in a safe and nurturing environment.
  • Childcare worker – Help children learn, grow, and develop in different settings.
  • Creche manager – Run a childcare centre, ensuring children are well cared for.
  • Child psychology assistant – Support professionals who work with children.

Studying a child psychology course will help you develop the skills needed for these roles.

How Do I Start Studying Child Psychology?

Starting your studies is simple. You can take a short course to learn the basics before moving to more advanced studies. Skills Academy offers different courses in child psychology, and you can study from home at your own pace.

Child Psychology Short Course 

This course is a great introduction to child psychology. It covers:

  • Communication with Children – Learn how children express themselves and how to respond.
  • Learning Psychology – Understand how children learn and what affects their thinking.
  • Introduction to Business English – Improve your reading, writing, and speaking skills.

Child Psychology Certificate Course 

This course goes deeper into child development and includes:

  • Child Development – Learn about different stages of growth and how children change over time.
  • First Aid Concepts – Gain skills to handle medical emergencies when working with children.

Comprehensive Child Psychology Course 

This is the most advanced course and teaches extra skills like:

  • Telephone Courtesy and Customer Service – Learn how to communicate professionally with parents and caregivers.
  • Time Management – Develop skills to organise and plan activities when working with children.

What to Study to become a Child Psychologist in South Africa

You do not need matric to start learning about child psychology. Skills Academy offers courses that help you gain practical skills to work in child-related careers. These courses focus on:

  • Understanding child behaviour – Learn how children think and respond to different situations.
  • Improving communication skills – Know how to listen, talk, and engage with children.
  • Supporting learning and development – Gain skills to help children grow in a healthy environment.

Study Child Psychology Without Matric

If you do not have matric, you can still study child psychology. Skills Academy offers courses that help you gain skills and knowledge for childcare roles.

  • No exams – Only assignments and assessments.
  • Study from anywhere – Learn from home at your own pace.
  • Work in childcare – Use your skills to get a job in daycare, early childhood development, or childcare services.

Start Learning About Child Psychology Today!

Whether you want to work with children, manage a daycare, or understand child behaviour better, there is a course for you. Take the first step and start studying child psychology with Skills Academy.

What Do I Need to Study Child Psychology?

To study child psychology, you need a basic understanding of child development, communication, and learning psychology. The Child Psychology Courses offered by Skills Academy cover these areas and more.

Skills Academy offers three study options:

  1. Child Psychology Short Course  – Covers the basics of communication with children and learning psychology.
  2. Child Psychology Certificate Course  – Expands on child development and first aid concepts.
  3. Child Psychology Comprehensive Course – Includes telephone etiquette, customer service, and time management.

Can I Study Child Psychology Without Matric?

Yes! At Skills Academy, you do not need matric to study child psychology. The courses are open to anyone who can read and write in English. These courses are designed to help students develop skills that are essential for working in early childhood education, regardless of previous academic qualifications​.

Which Course Is Best for Child Psychology?

The best course for child psychology depends on your goals:

  • Short Course: If you want a basic understanding of child psychology and communication with children.
  • Certificate Course: If you want to deepen your knowledge in child development and first aid.
  • Comprehensive Course: If you want the most complete training, including customer service and time management skills.

For a career in child psychology, the Comprehensive Course is the best option because it provides a broad set of skills that can be applied in daycare, schools, and childcare settings​.

How Many Years to Study Child Psychology?

The time it takes to study child psychology depends on the course you choose. At Skills Academy, we offer three different courses in this field.

  • Short Course – 4 months
  • Certificate Course – 8 months
  • Comprehensive Course – 12 months

Can You Study Child Psychology Online?

Yes, you can study child psychology online. At Skills Academy, you can study all our Child Psychology Courses via distance learning. This means you can study from home without attending physical classes.

Benefits of Studying Online

Studying child psychology online offers many advantages:

  • Flexible Schedule – Learn at your own pace while managing other responsibilities.
  • No Exams – You only need to complete assignments and a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) to pass.
  • No Matric Required – You can enrol in these courses without a matric certificate.
  • Study from Anywhere – No need to travel to a campus.

This is a great option if you want to balance work, family, and studies while gaining skills in child psychology.

How Much Is a Child Psychology Course?

The cost of a child psychology course depends on the level you choose. Skills Academy offers affordable courses with flexible payment plans to help you study without financial stress.

Course fees can change, so it’s best to contact Skills Academy directly to get the latest prices. 

Skills Academy also offers payment plans to help make studying more affordable. Speak to an advisor to find a plan that works for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Child psychology is also known as developmental psychology or child developmental psychology. It focuses on how children grow mentally, emotionally, and socially from infancy to adolescence.

Examples of child psychology include:

  • Studying how children learn and develop language skills
  • Understanding emotional responses and social interactions
  • Assessing behavioral patterns and cognitive development
  • Helping children cope with trauma, stress, or learning difficulties

A child psychologist studies, diagnoses, and treats mental, emotional, and behavioral issues in children. They help children overcome challenges such as anxiety, depression, developmental disorders, and trauma. They may work in schools, hospitals, or private practices.

Psychology is a broad field that studies human thoughts, emotions, and behaviors across all ages. Child psychology, on the other hand, is a specialized branch that focuses solely on children’s mental and emotional development from infancy to adolescence.

Author : Kirsten Keet  

Last Updated: 8 September 2025

SHARE ON:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Contact us

Click the button to complete a form and we will contact you to help with any queries you might have