Early Childhood Education (Perspectives) Culture

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September 1, 2009 Assignment #1 1. This question is difficult to answer because I feel that each contributor and theories are equally important in the field of early childhood education. My belief is that they are all parts of the whole in which should be considered for early childhood educators. Rousseau’s’ contribution that all children are naturally good is important because we must consider that behaviors are learned. It is the responsibility of the adult/caregiver to teach a child how to make good choices and encourage exploration of the world around them in which they may encounter the circumstances of their actions. The McMillan sister theory of the “nurture” school is equally important because the health of the child is vital to their learning ability. An unhealthy child’s development can be delayed if they are constantly sick, improperly cared for, as well as neglected. T. Brazelton’s reasonable discipline is also important because a child should be taught the way that they should go and even though they may stray they will always return to what they were taught. All children should be able to explore but must have boundaries set. Montessori, Froebel, Malaguzzi, and Dewey’s theories all contribute to the ideal that a child’s learning environment should be safe, conducive to learning (prepared), and promote the use of imagination. A child’s garden is referenced as a place where children can run free; able to explore the world around them which would promote learning; socialization; and imagination. This leads to Malaguzzi’s theory of creativity. A child who engages in free play learns the world around them with others at their own developmental stage as they do this they have the freedom to recreate what they see as they react to their environment. In addition preparing a child’s environment with sequential materials according to

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