Child Development Theories And The Classroom
There are multiple influences on early development and learning. Knowing the theories is not enough for teachers; they need to have a deep understanding of how to apply them to the classroom and in the home.
Imagine you are an early childhood educator, and your director has asked you to give a 12-15 slide digital presentation to your students’ families on child development theories. After giving this presentation, families should have a better understanding of their child’s development and ways to support their learning throughout early childhood.
Be sure your presentation addresses the following:
The importance of understanding cognitive, behavioral, and social development theories for the early childhood classroom and their connections to learning. Include at least one theorist to support each theory.
Discuss at least one strategy per theory type to implement the theory in your classroom environment in order to create a healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environment for young children. Explain how this directly connects to motivation.
Provide at least one strategy per theory type for families to consider and implement in the home that reflects the theory.
Sample Solution
Child development theories focus on explaining how children change and grow over the course of childhood. These developmental theories center on various aspects of growth, including social, emotional, and cognitive development. Developmental theories provide a framework for thinking about human growth and learning. An understanding of child development is essential because it allows us to fully appreciate the cognitive, emotional, physical, social, and educational growth that children go through from birth and into early adulthood.
