Melanie Mckechnie
Tile: A report Detailing Child
Development Theories
Terms of Reference
:
Professor Audrey Babka, from University
of Warsaw, has asked for a report about child development to help with research
in this field. Professor Babka sent an email asking for this on 23rd January
2012. The report has not to contain recommendations.
Procedure
:
Handouts have been looked at and notes
from lectures about the theorist, is how the research was gathered for this
report.
Findings:
1.0 1.0 John Bowlby
looked at stage of development, which come under emotional social and personal
development. Bowlby stressed how important of the bond between mother and baby is
as the need to form attachments are biological (innate). Bowlby found from
research that the first five years are the most important for later personality
development. Bowlby believed from this that children without warm continuous
relationship with the mother suffer from maternal deprivation.
2.0 2.0 John Bowlby
has influenced current early education and childcare practise greatly through
things such as parents now get the opportunity to develop a relationship with
people that are involved in the care of children and share unique knowledge of
children. As parents benefit from sharing knowledge of the setting and
activities and routines with children, which contributes to on going
relationships. Bowlby has helped parents that may feel anxious about young children
starting nursery as now parents can develop a strong bond with key workers.
Children also benefit from key workers as it gives the child a face that is
known to the child and also someone that knows all about the child.
3.0 3.0 Jean Piaget
looked at that stage of development, which is cognitive development. Piaget
found that babies are born with reflexes, which are involuntary responses to
the environment. Piaget found that there are such things called schemata that
are patterns of behaviour, which are used to guide and direct behaviour. Schemata are adapted through the assimilation and
accommodation. Piaget found that there are four stages to cognitive development
sensory motor stage, pre- operational stage, and concrete operations stage and
then formal operation stage. Piaget believed not everyone could reach the final
stage.
4.0 Piaget has influence practice now as
early education workers can plan activities to the stage of cognitive
development the child is at, as the key worker understands the child's
cognitive development more. Also through schemata as patterns of behaviour will
asset early educations workers to recognise the learning processes of
individual children and provide a range of meaningful activities.
Conclusion:
Bowlby thought that being separated for
a length of time could have significant effect of the future development of a
child. Bowlby’s theory has helped to put key workers and open days in which
parents and their children can come and get to know staff and the nursery
environment. Piaget learnt that children learn at different stages, which has
helped key workers plan activities for children in nursery that are best for
the child’s stage of cognitive development.
