During week 1 and 2, we have been discussing about childhood development.
Why is it so importan to learn about child development? It seem like if its something not interesting, which in fact it is, and its very useful and meaningful while you become a teacher.
Child development refers to the changes that occurs as a child grow and develop relation to being physically healthy, mentally aware, socially competent and ready to learn. As we studied there are three importan development stages.
The first stage is INFANCY ( 0-2 years old) and this is a crucial time where the star to develop bonds that will las a life time. During this stage there ase some biggest changes that face, if we are talking about physical development, children start to develop gross and fine motor skills. Also the cognitive development is important because they start to recognize smells shapes, tastes, colors, so they start having something to relate with. But if we talk about psychosocial development, this is te moment when children star to share feelings, and also self-esteem, so we have to know that if a child feel comfortable with something or someone, they will like or accept it, but if not, they will immediately reject it.
The second stage is EARLY CHILDHOOD ( 3 - 8 years old ) so here children are free to roam around their world, its a time for active exploration of their environment and a crucial time to develop the ability to ask for everything and anything. As in the previous stage, their physical development comprehend that the gross and fine motor skills develops even better. While in the cognitive development its a good moment to create awareness, so they get to know that exist more people. Also as they can store information, its a great moment where they can learn a new language. In the psychosocial development they are more aware of how they behave while they are with people, hence, interaction with others is important, but at the same time, they show reluctant to people they don't see that often.
The third stage is MIDDLE CHILDHOOD ( 9 - 11 years old ) in this stage the physical development they have already master their gross and fine motor skills, and they are able to do anything with their bodies. In the cognitive development they become more realistic and use logic, they are able to store more information and the attention spam is something really important because, we as teacher need to know how to keep focus our students during a period of time, specially because at this age children are more energetic. In the psychologically development children begin to assert their power and control over the world through directing play and other social interactions, as well they like to work with people.
Also we have studied different point of views of experts regarding to childhood development.
- Jean Piaget has developed the cognitive theory, and it explain the mechanism and processes by which the infant and then the child develop into an individual who can reason and think, using hypothesis. this theory is divided in four stages:
1. Sensorimotor ( 0 - 2 years )
2. Pre-operational ( 2 - 7 years )
3. Concrete operational ( 7 - 11 years )
4. Formal operation ( 11 + )
- Lev Vygotsky developed the sociocultural theory, it explain how social interaction guide learning, hence, the environment in which children grow up will influence how and what they think about. It is also divided in four stages:
1. Elementary and higher mental functions.
2. Zone of proximal development.
3. The role of language.
4. The role of culture.
- Lawrance Kohlberg developed the Moral theory, and it discover the ways in which moral reasoning change as people grew older. It is dividend in 3 stages:
1. Pre-conventional morality ( 0 - 9 ).
2. Conventional morality ( 10 - 18 ).
3. Post-conventional morality ( 19 +).
- Erick Erickson developed the psychosocial theory, a difference from the other theories, this is divided in 8, because it involves the psychosocial needs in conflict with the needs of the society. However, as we are going to work with middle childhood, there are four stages that belongs to it:
1.Trust vs mistrust.
2. Autonomy vs Shame.
3. Initiative vs guilt.
4. Industry vs inferiority.
Its been an important and rewarding week in knowledge, things that we have learn this week will lead us in the practice we will have to face while teaching children.
