Child Development Report

1. Title:

A Report Detailing Child Development Theory

2. Terms of Reference:

Professor Audrey Babka from the university of Warsaw has requested via email on 23^rd January 2012 to write a short 500-word report on Child Development.

The report has been asked for as Audrey is doing research on Child Development.

This report should not include recommendations.

Procedure:

The research for this report was carried out at home, using Internet, textbooks and handouts.

Each of the two theorists supported two different aspects of cognitive development. Bowlby researched the effects of children separated from mothers. 

Piaget focuses on how children require knowledge.

3. 0 Findings:

3.1: Bowbly’s theory of attachment

John Bowlby was a child psychiatrist who researched into the effects on children of separation from mothers.

Bowlby is well known for the theory of attachment that is based on the premise that the mother-baby attachment is unique and different from any other relationship the child may have.

Bowlby emphasized the importance of the bond between infants and the child's primary carers, usually the child's mothers. Bowlby claimed that individual’s future mental health depended on successful attachment in the first few months of life.

This theory was concerned with how separation impacted negatively on children.  This was displayed when the child was separated and felt distressed and anxious.

3.2: How Bowbly's theory has influenced current early education and childcare practitioner

Bowlby emphasized the importance for ongoing emotional well being of the bond between children and their primary carers. The influence on current practice in early education and childcare includes:

•    Knowledge and understanding of the importance of the child's bond/attachment with their primary carer and significant others is essential for staff in early education and childcare settings


•    Introduction of young children to nursery, and nursery workers should take place over time to allow the child to develop multiple bonds


•    The separation should be gradual with the primary carer staying with the child on initial visits to the nursery to establish trust and allow other bonds to be formed


•    The child should have a key/named worker so a bond can be formed


3.3: Piaget's Theory of attachment

Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development suggests that children move through four different stages of mental development these stages are, sensory motor stage (birth to 18months/2years), per-operational stage (2 to 6/7years), the concrete operational stage (7 to 11years) and formal stage (11years to 18+).

Piaget's ideas included concepts such as symbolism, conservation, egocentric and object permanence.

Piaget's theory focuses on understanding how children acquire knowledge and the understanding of nature intelligence.

Piaget believed human senses take in information about things around the environment and human brains store this, which affect every human’s behavior. Piaget also believed that cognitive development occurs as a result of active exploration and discovery of the world by children.

Piaget carried out some experiments on the children for example 'The 3 mountains task' where Piaget showed 3 mountains to a few of the children but sat each child at different angles but some of the children were unable to see the mountains from a different perspective to highlight children are ego centric.

4.0: How Piaget's theory has influenced current early education and childcare practice

Piaget's theory included stages of cognitive development and schemata. The influence on current practice in early education and childcare includes ;

•    Children progress through specific learning stages at different ages


•    Important to understand the assimilation and accommodation of schemata applicable at all ages


•    Children need opportunities to learn through active exploration and investigation of their environment


•    Important for early education and childcare workers to recognize which developmental stage a child has reached and not to expect understanding beyond their age and stage of cognitive development


Conclusion

Overall Piaget and Bowlby supported two different aspects of Cognitive development. Piaget believed that children learn and require through 4 stages.

Piaget believes cognitive development develops through active exploration.

Bowlby believes that children develop loss and grief when separated from mothers at birth.