Early Childhood Essay

165 Studying Early Childhood
Early Years Pioneers: Their Impact Today
For this assignment I am going to research into how early years pioneers have impacted on children’s education through childhood. I will provide brief descriptions about pioneers, the definition of childhood and how it affects the care of our children and working as a professional practioner.
Pioneers are recognised professionals who have had masses of influence on children and education today dating back to the seventeenth century. Pioneers provide educational theory to support and encourage a child’s development. From my findings it is evident that many Ideologies and strategies which we use in our settings today originate back to the many theories.    
My belief of childhood involves the growing and developing in the early years of life, between the ages of birth and eighteen, children developing into adults through experiences and exploration.   Aries was a leading figure in studying childhood he suggests “In medieval society the idea of childhood did not exist.” (Jenks 2006:64) As childhood has been developed through the years, there has been a lot of change in the upbringing over the centuries and countries. Education today is reliant on society, with play being the most important factor. Children today do not have the expectations or responsibilities to provide for their families by starting work at a young age. I believe that childhood has remained the same, the only change being the generations we grew up in. Throughout the different generations considerations on your upbringing and education depend on factors such as welfare, discipline, finance, family structure, beliefs of the educator and toys or games available.  
“As children grow older the influence of parents, carers and teachers on development is often at odds with the influence of their own peer group.” (Eye 2006)
Various pioneers who theories we often reflect on in our settings every day include Frobel and Montessori...