Applying Theories to Children's Literature

1113 Words5 Pages
ENG/290 Applying Theories to Children's Literature Children develop quite rapidly within the first few years of life. Some of this development can be attributed to social interactions, education, economic status, and religion. It was once thought that all humans are born equally and we all have the same ability to learn and grow according to our experiences. In other words, all humans are born as a blank slate. However, in modern times, especially with the onset of DNA research, it is believed that heredity plays a part in predetermining who we are. Some experts believe that humans are prewired with information about who they are before they make it out of the womb. This means that not all men are created equal and some of are born with talents that others will never achieve no matter how hard they try. On the other hand, environment, family, social interactions, education, and experiences all play a part in helping to develop individual talents. Some theories about human development believe that humans develop from childhood in several critical stages from birth through adolescence. These different theories can be applied to children’s literature in a way that can help children understand moral lessons and social skills with age appropriate information. Depending on a child’s age, a book can convey information in a way they can understand and can help to spark interest for further development. Children’s books written with Piaget’s theory in mind give children understandable information on many different topics of life depending on which developmental stage the child is in. This gives the child an opportunity to address touchy subjects that may be difficult for adults to explain appropriately. Children’s literature written with Kohlberg’s theory in mind can deliver moral lessons and give children an outlet for understanding their own internal
Open Document