Basic Principles of Development Early Childhood Education Understanding

Basic Principles of Development Early Childhood Education

Understanding Development O Child Development – pattern of change that occurs as children grow from birth to adolescence. O How, when, why and in what order changes occur. O If you know what a child’s capabilities should typically be – you know what to expect O What are the implications for the child care worker?

Contributors

A result of over a hundred years… O In the past – chd were seen as small adults. O Interests in child grew, led to research O Observed and tested theories O Even today, current researchers carry on the efforts

Sigmund Freud – 1856 -1939 O Austrian neurologist, considered “Father of Psychoanalysis” O Believed personality develops through a series of stages – early experiences shape adult life

Maria Montessori – 18701952 • Italian physician/educator • Children learn by using their senses, learn best by pursuing their interests • Children need “manipulatives” to exercise sensory learning

Arnold Gesell (1880 -1961) O Psychologist and pediatrician O Devel. Basic info about the order in which child. Master various skills, typical rate of devel.

Jean Piaget (1896 -1980) • Swiss developmental psychologist and philosopher • 1 st to study child. In sci. way, focused on how child. Learn • 4 stages of thinking that shape how chd see and learn about the world ▫ Sensorimotor stage (0 -2) ▫ Preoperational stage (2 -7) ▫ Concrete operational (7 -11) ▫ Formal operational (11 -16>) • Chd should be given learning tasks suitable to their stage of thinking

Lev Vygotsky (1898 -1934) • Soviet Belarusian psychologist • Posited a concept of “Zone of Proximal Development” - the difference between what a learner can do without help and what he or she can do with help. • Bio devel and cultural exper influence child ability to think and learn, social contact essential to intellectual devel. • Many opp for social interaction to devel intellectually

B. F. Skinner (1904 -1990) • American psychologist/behaviorist • Operant conditioning/reinforcem ent – good consequences = action reinforced, bad consequences = action not repeated • Parents can use rewards/punishment to influence child behavior

Abraham Maslow (19081870) O American psychologist O Pyramid shaped – “hierarchy of needs” O For personal growth, needs must be met in order

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Albert Bandura (1925 - ) O Canadian Psychologist O Children learn by modeling O Disagreed with Skinner – although environ shapes behavior, behavior also affects the environment

Robert Coles (1929 - ) O Child Psychiatrist/prof at Harvard U O Studied children’s moral development O Important role of parent and other caregivers play by examples they set

Areas of Development O Child development broken down into areas of development: O Physical O Intellectual O Emotional O Social O Moral

Physical O Growth of the body as well as its abilities O Height/weight O Most dramatic during infancy and adolescence O As child dev physically, they gain new abilities O Motor Skills – abilities that depend on the use and control of muscles O Fine vs. Gross

Intellectual O AKA Cognitive development – occurs as child learn to think, understand, reason and use language O Infants – readily soak up knowledge via 5 senses O Early years – rapid changes – brain growth O Complex thinking develops

Emotional O Feelings about themselves, others and the world O Positive (happy/contentment) and negative (angry, fear, frustration) are experienced O Pos = emotionally well adjusted (too much stress = detrimental) O Neg – acceptable, need to learn how to handle emotions appropriately and recover

Social O Children discover how to relate to other O O people Skills needed to get along with others and fit into society Play, share trade, settle fights w/ words Understand that society has rules we live by What effect can proper social development have on how a person views him/herself?

Moral Development O Linked to social dev O Understand act according to what is right and wrong O Develop values O Affects how they interact with people O WHS – if someone hits you, you hit them back. O Is there a dilemma in terms of teaching “moral values” in the child care setting?

Characteristics of Development O Development is interrelated. O Changes taking place in many areas at the same time, impacts other areas O Self-feeding – physical + intellectual

Characteristics of Development O Development is Similar for All O Similar for everyone, same stages in same order O Sit before standing, stand before walking

Characteristics of Development O Rates of development are individual O Rate of growth varies from child to child O How can a caregiver tell when a child should be learning a new skill? – Patterns of dev. Are predictable – average O Boys dev. Slower than girls O Avoid comparisons

Characteristics of Development O Development is ongoing aka life-span development O Rate of development changes, but never stops O Child get good start sets the stage for satisfying dev over a lifetime (brain research)

Characteristics of Development O Development is sequential O Development follows a step-by-step pattern – a sequence

Development is Sequential O Top to Bottom (cephalocaudal) – master body movement and coordination from head downward – lift head, then trunk O Center to Outside (proximodistal) – development progresses from spine to arms and legs and then to fingers and toes – swing arms in lg circles – maneuver wrists

Development is Sequential O From large to small – chd dev control over large muscles before small – run and jump before they are able to throw or catch a ball w/ accuracy O From general to specific – simple, increasingly complex, - jump up and down w/ two feet then w/ one

Concept Map O Create a concept map of developmental principles. O ON the back of your paper, create a map for the sequences of development

Ticket out of Here O Why is understanding childhood development important? O Your Assignment: O You will observe a selection of toys in a toy store, big box store, or via the internet (Toys R Us). Identify toys that promote the different areas of development, toys that promote multiple areas of development and ONE Toy that has very little value in promoting development