Considering the work of key pioneers and current experts with links to child development theory. There are many theories about how children learn and develop. This area of study is called developmental psychology which covers subjects such as cognitive, language and emotional development. The research methods are based heavily on the on going assessments carried out by observing children over a period of time. Assessment is part of the process of understanding what children know, understand and can do so that future teaching steps can be appropriately planned.
In Erikson’s view he sees these conflicts centered around developing a psychological quality or failing to develop that quality. Erikson’s theory is stage theory based on the assumption that development is universal and although there may be individual differences in terms of when and how it is experienced everyone in the end should develop and go through the same stages. In our world today, Erikson’s theory is often questioned due to the growing cross-cultural evidence that people in different cultures develop and go through different experiences and stages in life. Erikson’s fifth stage of his theory is the most controversial and fought over stage. This stage in Identity vs. Confusion and concerns adolescence children and the way they explore their independence and develop a sense of self.
Assess sociological explanations of changes in the status of childhood Social construction is the way that something is created through individual, social and cultural interpretations, perception and actions of people. Childhood has not stayed the same throughout history and varies in different cultures, so it is not possible that childhood is biological and therefore it must be socially constructed for a particular time, for a particular societies needs. Eidenstadt is one sociologist who believes that childhood is socially constructed and is therefore culturally specific. Bilton supports this argument that childhood is experienced differently in the western world compared to the east; the western world has childhood while the eastern world still sees children working. Benedict has suggested that in simpler pre-industrial societies there are three main differences in the ways that children are treated compared to modern western societies, claiming that responsibility is taken at an earlier age, for example Punch’s study in Bolivia found that children from around the age of 5 are expected to work.
Part B: How does a historical perspective enhance our understanding of childhood in the present? The state of being a child, commonly known as childhood in today’s society carries several definitions depending on the purpose and context. Generally though in general terms, childhood refers to the age stage of life between infancy and adulthood. It is however worthy noting that this general definition holds for all definitions the range of years in which one is considered a child differs. For instance the UNCRC a states that any person below the age of which includes some puberty stages 18 is a child, however for scientists childhood is the stage of development between birth and puberty.
Early childhood is a time of remarkable cognitive development. Cognitive abilities associated with memory, reasoning, problem-solving and thinking continue to emerge throughout childhood. Children during this stage are learning to figure out the world around them. It is hard not to mention the work of psychologist Jean Piaget, One of the key concepts in Piaget's theory is the use of
2.3 Explain how theories of development and frameworks to support development influence current practice. Theories of development and frameworks to support development are incredibly important to us when working with children. They help us to understand children, how they react to things, situations, their behaviour and the way they learn. Different theories and ways of working with children have come together to provide frameworks for children’s care, such as Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which is used within all child care settings. This encourages us to work together, help and check the development of babies, children and young people, to keep them healthy and safe.
Piaget also suggested that, as children develop so does their thinking. Piaget work has meant that early years settings and schools have attempted to provide more
• Evaluate different parenting styles and their influence on development during infancy and early childhood. Include which parenting style you feel is most effective and why. • Discuss early childhood education and its influence on cognitive development. • Include at least two references. • Format your paper to APA standards.
(2013). Parent–Child Visits in Foster Care: Reaching Shared Goals and Expectations to Better Prepare Children and Parents for Visits. Child Adolescence Social Work Journal, 237-255. 2. What is the general purpose of the study?
While Piaget believed in the universal stages and set cognitive development within those stages, Vygotsky really placed a great deal of the responsibility for development on the culture to which the child is exposed, and he also placed a great amount of importance on social factors. (simplypsychology) Critics of Piaget feel that he greatly underestimated the effects of social factors on cognitive development. Research has refuted the claims by Piaget that his learning stages were fixed and that certain learning could not take place until a child reached that particular stage of development (Slavin, 2009, p.40) Through research, it is now widely accepted that children are more competent than Piaget deduced. Piaget also believed in self-initiated discovery while Vygotsky placed emphasis on social contributions to learning such as cooperative learning. Another main controversy is with Piaget’s broad grouping of the stages affecting cognitive tasks.