Exploring Key Theories in Early Childhood
Exploring Key Theories in Early Childhood
Onderdelen in deze les
Exploring Key Theories in Early Childhood
What do you already know about early childhood development theories?
Learning Objective
At the end of the lesson you will be able to identify key early childhood development theories, describe their main ideas, and discuss their classroom relevance.
Why Are Development Theories Important?
Theories help us understand how children learn, think, and form relationships. They underpin effective teaching and support.
Jean Piaget: Stages of Cognitive Development
Piaget proposed children move through four stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. Each stage marks growth in thinking and understanding.
Open Question: Piaget
In which ways have you seen children in a setting act differently based on their developmental stage?
Noam Chomsky: Language Acquisition
Chomsky suggested children are born with an ability to acquire language, known as the 'language acquisition device'.
Multiple Choice: Chomsky
Chomsky believed:** A. Language is learned by imitation B. Children are born ready to learn language C. Language only develops after age 6 D. Language does not need social input
Jerome Bruner: Scaffolding Learning
Bruner argued that adults provide scaffolding—support—to help children learn new concepts, eventually enabling independent learning.
Discussion: Bruner
How can you scaffold a child's learning in a play-based activity?
Lev Vygotsky: Social Contexts for Learning
Vygotsky emphasised the importance of social interaction in cognitive development, introducing the 'zone of proximal development'.
Vygotsky: Your Turn
Describe an experience where you helped a child achieve more with guidance than alone.
Open Question
Multiple Choice
What is the 'zone of proximal development'? A. What a child does alone B. Tasks just beyond current ability, where guidance helps C. Adult-led only D. Any group activity
Brown, Schaffer & Emerson: Attachment
These theorists explored how attachments form between young children and caregivers, influencing emotional and social development.
Reflect: Attachment Theorists
Why is attachment considered so important in early years settings?
John Bowlby: Attachment Theory
Bowlby stressed how early attachments affect future relationships. Secure attachments help healthy emotional development.
Mary Ainsworth: Strange Situation
Ainsworth developed the Strange Situation to classify attachment types: secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-resistant.
Ainsworth: Your Thoughts
Multiple Choice
Open Question
What factors might influence a child's attachment style?
Which is NOT an attachment type? A. Secure B. Insecure-avoidant C. Insecure-resistant D. Independent
Urie Bronfenbrenner: Ecological Model
Bronfenbrenner’s model explains child development within multiple interacting systems: microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem.
Activity: Bronfenbrenner
Think of a child you know. List factors from their home, school, and wider community that might influence development.
Connecting Theory to Practice
Reflect on how these theories guide your approach working with children. Which do you find most useful, and why?
Summary & Next Steps
What does the acronym to help you remember Bowlby's theory stand for ? (ASCMI)
Write everything you can remember about Chomsky
Describe the Information Processing Theory
Describe Brown's theory including MLU
