...CHILD DEVELOPMENT ESSAY Sensitive Mothering is essential to the social and emotional development of the child. Discuss this statement in the context of relevant development theory. • Explain what is meant by the term Sensitive Mothering. Explain why sensitive mothering is important in building a positive emotional base. • Link this explanation to Bowlby’s attachment theory and Ainsworth’s studies. You will need to show an understanding of the internal working model of attachment and how sensitive mothering impacts the quality of attachment. • Links also need to be made to Erikson’s relevant psychological stages of personality development, emphasizing the importance of a supportive social environment. • Consider research that determines how early attachment impacts social and emotional development of three to five year olds and adults. Bowlby (1969 cited in Nicholls & Kirkland, 1996, p.55) states that an important element in the development of secure attachment is maternal sensitivity. This is necessary in order to engender an infant’s confidence in a mother's accessibility and responsiveness. Ainsworth et al (1978 cited in Barnes, 1995, p.14) opine that maternal sensitivity predicts the extent of attachment between mother and infant. “Mothers who are more sensitive, responsive, accessible and cooperative during their child’s first year are likely to have a child who develops a secure attachment”. Ainsworth et al, (1978 cited in Barnes, 1995...
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...childhood education that come from around the world to the United States including Montessori, Waldorf, and the Emilia approach. A more popular type of early childhood education is Montessori. Montessori is a way of encouraging children to be hands on while they learn. This way of learning came from a woman named “Maria Montessori [who] developed an innovative teaching methodology for children” (Holfester ). She was an Italian physician and educator in the...
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...child’s ultimate goal in life is to create the person s/he is to become (Montessori, 2012). There are intrinsic and universal powers within a child that are rudimentary in his/her arduous task of self-construction. Montessori identified these elements as: the human tendencies (1966, 2007a, 2007b), the planes of development (2007a), the absorbent mind (2007a), and the sensitive periods (1966). This paper will give an account on how these elements come together in a child’s life, and how, with the understanding of this concepts, the adults – parents, carers and educators alike – can prepare a favourable environment most suitable for the optimal formation of man. It will also provide examples of the unfolding of this process of growth and development. Montessori (2012) identified three planes of development which are grouped into six-year cycles: birth to age six, age six to 12, and age 12 to 18 (Montessori, 2012). The second plane, childhood, is peaceful and stable, while the first and third planes, the absorbent mind and adolescence, respectively, are periods of dramatic changes and creative transformations. Montessori believed that the first stage of growth is the most important one because “(a)t no other age has the child greater need of an intelligent help, and any obstacles that impedes his creative work will lessen the chance he has of achieving perfection” (2007a, p26). According to Montessori (2012), a child’s mind possesses unique powers, present only in this...
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...explaining the development of discipline and obedience in early childhood. Montessori perspective establishes a link between these two concepts and how their maturation is dependent on the maturation of the will of the child. This essay will attempt to explain the relationship between discipline and obedience in the developmental stages of a child. Attention will be paid to how the environment helps the child in his development through the stages according to Montessori. According to Oxford dictionary, ‘to discipline is to train to obey rules and code of conduct, using punishment to correct disobedience’. In the traditional sense of discipline much emphasis is placed on the use of external stimuli including rewards and punishment to ensure conformity with a certain required behavior. Discipline is thus exacted with a bait of reward or punishment. Usually discipline is achieved through among others threats, bribes, coercion and fear. In the perspective of Montessori however disciple is described to be active and comes from within the child as a result of his own internal motivation. A child’s discipline emerges as he works in a purposeful manner in a prepared environment (Montessori 2007a). According to Montessori (2007b, p51) ‘ the discipline we are looking for is active. We do not believe that one is disciplined only when he is artificially made as silent as a mute and as motionless as a paralytic. Such a one is not disciplined but annihilate’ (Montessori, 2007b,p. 51)...
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...Maria Montessori Shedell L. Satcher January 8, 2012 Introduction to Early Childhood Education Jessica DeBiase While working and studying to become an early childhood professional the name of Maria Montessori has came up often. Maria Montessori was a legendary icon she was advocate for education and peace. “She believed that learning was a total life experience for all children and that children of every land and culture developed in fundamentally the same way” (O’Connor,). My personal thoughts on education have been influenced by Maria’s concepts, beliefs, and theories about education. Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy. At thirteen years old Maria began her college years at an all-boys technical school. It took a couple of years for Maria to decide on what she wanted to do with her life but by the time she graduated in 1890. Maria wanted to become a doctor and during this time women were not permitted into medical school. But she was confident and optimistic that change would occur and Maria became the first female in Italy to receive a medical degree. Maria worked in the areas of psychiatry, education, and anthropology. The Montessori Method is an innovative teaching approach for children that left a permanent mark on education curriculum throughout the world. Montessori defined four stages of development. She identified that within these stages of development it is intense at the beginning, consolidates and then tapers to the...
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...1. INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Welcome to KuKi Montessori, one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the joy of learning. Our focus is to provide a stimulating early care and education experience which promotes each child's cognitive, physical, social and emotional development. Our program is designed for children aged 3 and 4 years old. We aim to provide a safe, happy, caring and stimulating environment where your child can learn through encouragement, sensitivity to others and mutual respect while at the same time encouraging each child to express his own personality through imaginative and creative play. Our program offer children opportunities for learning, play, taking part in arts and crafts, children will be able to work and play in small and large groups, both inside the classroom and outdoors. In our main class we include a library’s corner; we reinforce all skills about communication, reading and writing. Through stories, children learn to appreciate language, gain new vocabulary, and learn to use new words and concepts, we provide a separate motor’s room as well offering the children organized games and gym based program and an outdoor play area with a wide range of toys, slides, playhouses… and also we have a garden area that the children use to grow flowers and vegetables. Spanish language is an integral part of our curriculum. Teacher introduces Spanish through songs, games, instruction, greetings…This program is designed for children who have no prior...
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...| Your Selected approach: Montessori | Reggio Emilia Approach | Identify how each component is similar or different between the two approaches. | Teacher’s Role in Supporting | 1. Cognitive Development | 1. Here teacher helps children in thinking logically, comparing, contrasting and matching patterns. Teacher takes care of phonological development and language acquisition of child by involving them in singing, reading, talking and playing with the sound of words. 2. Teacher keeps educational materials around the children to invoke their sensory organs and generate curiosity in them. And this curiosity takes them toward their cognitive development. 3. Pupils are kept engaged in puzzles and play. Puzzles develop problem solving skill in children. They also learn sequence and organization. While solving puzzles children come up with questions as how it can be organized further? This way they construct knowledge and lead toward cognitive development. 4. Some senior Montessori teachers are also expected to design their own material to educate and help children in their cognitive development. | 1. Here teacher helps children to recognize concepts, thoughts and theories to generate new meaning. 2. Teacher gives many opportunities to child for exploration and cognitive development such as presentation of concepts in variety of ways like art, music, shadow play. 3. In Reggio Emilia model teacher keeps open ended material around children. Things which can be...
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...How effective is the Montessori method in developing children's creativity, both during early years education and throughout primary school education? There are currently approximately 700 Montessori schools operating in the United Kingdom, and this number is growing annually (Montessori St. Nicholas, 2010). The vast majority of these schools cater for children between the ages of three and six. However, in more recent times, there has been a gradual establishment of Montessori schools that provide primary school education for children older than six. There are now about thirty such primary schools in the United Kingdom (Montessori St. Nicholas, 2010). Although this is still a relatively small number of schools on a national scale, it is nevertheless an interesting increase to investigate further. These schools use the 'Montessori method' to both educate children, and further their holistic development. Before a brief discussion of what differentiates the Montessori method of education from other educational pedagogies, it is important to know and understand the underlying principles that all Montessori schools adhere to for the benefit of the children who attend them. The Montessori method is based on the ideas and theories of Maria Montessori, an Italian physician who experimented with giving young children more freedom, both to direct their own learning, and work and learn at their own pace. In the process, she arrived at two pivotal (and, at the time, somewhat...
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...The needs of children at age three in a child care setting are based on fundamental rights outlined by the United Nations. Overviews of the stages of development that occur during a child’s third year of life and best practices for physical and psychological development of this age group in the United Kingdom are examined. Research shows the United Kingdom is behind other developed countries in child development services. There is a need for qualified professionals to serve in the child care industry. Full day care settings lack more than 120,000 qualified providers across Britain (Department for Education, 2011). Three-year-old children are developing in stages that change rapidly, from being completely dependent on caregivers to learning self-care skills such as toileting, dressing, cooking, and climbing. Being three is full of exciting opportunities for exploration through play and social interactions that will help the childern learn to function in the world around them. Children at the three-year old stage of physical development are growing out of the toddler stage and have learned to walk and run, have a full set of baby teeth, and sleep between 10-12 hours a night with few if any daytime naps. My own three year old son does not take a nap and hasn’t since he was two and a half years old. Most three-year-olds are transitioning out of nappies or are able to use the toilet. A normally developing three year old can wash his or her hands, hop on one foot and kick...
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...have feelings, ideas and relationships with others, and who need to be physically, mentally, morally and spiritually healthy. Young children learn in an integrated way and not in neat tidy compartments. Children learn best when they are given appropriate responsibility, allowed to make errors, decisions and choices, and respected as autonomous learners. Self-discipline is emphasised. Indeed, this is the only kind of discipline worth having. Reward systems are very short-term and do not work in the long-term. Children need their efforts to be valued. There are times when children are especially able to learn particular things. What children can do rather than what they cannot do, is the starting point of a child’s education. Imagination, creativity and all kinds of symbolic behaviour [reading, writing, drawing, dancing, music, mathematical numbers, algebra, role play and talking] develop and emerge when conditions are favourable. Relationships with other people [both adults and children] are of central importance in a child’s life. Quality education is about three things: the child, the context in which learning takes place, and the knowledge and understanding that the child develops and learns. Tina Bruce based her theory around the importance of a...
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...learn about why things happen using all of their senses both indoors and outdoors. The hypothesis that will be discussed throughout this essay is how play is important in early development and learning and how it serves both the child’s individual needs and the future society in which they will live in. This will be discussed and explored through reference to historical play pioneers, legislation, policy and guidance and theoretical knowledge on the social, cultural and intellectual perspectives on play. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework (2008), created under the Childcare Act (2006), gives all practitioners across England guidance on a play based approach to learning. Therefore, assuming children do learn by play, practitioners and professionals must deliver planned, purposeful play which has a balance between adult-led and child-initiated activities, as stated by QCA (2007). There should be a wide variety of different play methods that allows them to represent their own learning experiences. These opportunities provided for children in early years settings, need to enhance and develop all of their skills and abilities. This includes: communication with peers and other adults, exploring different environments that include taking risks, making mistakes and thinking creatively whilst using their imagination. These key skills can be seen to be available through a...
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...Outcome 2 & 3 Yvonne Norval Contents Page 1 - Title Page 2 - Contents Page 3 - Introduction/Develop and plan Page 4 - Cont.… Page 5 – Evaluate effectiveness of adult contribution Page 6 – Cont.… Page 7 - References Introduction Throughout this project I am going to demonstrate my ability to take a lead role in the development and planning of a quality curriculum. My project will include evidence of the planning process, equality issues, Samples of children’s work, photos and Materials used for evaluation and proposed developments for the future. I will evaluate the contribution made by the practitioner, Manager and other adults, and identify any strengths and weaknesses. Develop and plan for a quality Curriculum Using Pre Birth to Three curriculums, myself and my staff meet to discuss and plan for the month a head, using a form called improvement plan, Record of consultation (Appendix1). Due to various children’s interests i.e. looking out the window at the different flowers, stories, songs and parent information (Parent had told us they had been out with their child doing the gardening); we decided to build on this, as Maria Montessori said that “the child can only be free when the adult becomes an acute observer. Any action of the adult that is not a response to the children’s observed behaviour and interests limit the child’s freedom”. Pound, L (2006) she believed children learned best through their senses and in an environment designed to meet their needs....
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...Outcome 2 & 3 Yvonne Norval Contents Page 1 - Title Page 2 - Contents Page 3 - Introduction/Develop and plan Page 4 - Cont.… Page 5 – Evaluate effectiveness of adult contribution Page 6 – Cont.… Page 7 - References Introduction Throughout this project I am going to demonstrate my ability to take a lead role in the development and planning of a quality curriculum. My project will include evidence of the planning process, equality issues, Samples of children’s work, photos and Materials used for evaluation and proposed developments for the future. I will evaluate the contribution made by the practitioner, Manager and other adults, and identify any strengths and weaknesses. Develop and plan for a quality Curriculum Using Pre Birth to Three curriculums, myself and my staff meet to discuss and plan for the month a head, using a form called improvement plan, Record of consultation (Appendix1). Due to various children’s interests i.e. looking out the window at the different flowers, stories, songs and parent information (Parent had told us they had been out with their child doing the gardening); we decided to build on this, as Maria Montessori said that “the child can only be free when the adult becomes an acute observer. Any action of the adult that is not a response to the children’s observed behaviour and interests limit the child’s freedom”. Pound, L (2006) she believed children learned best through their senses and in an environment designed to meet their needs....
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...Assignment Discuss the key aspects of Early Years child development in the contexts of providing support an appropriate child care setting Page 1 This essay will look at the key aspects of early Years child development in the contexts of providing support in an appropriate child care setting. The early years of a child’s life are the most important in terms of their general well-being, their emotional and social development, and their physical, intellectual and emotional growth. Bruce and Meggitt, (1999) claim that children learn more in the first five years than in the whole of their lives, thus supporting the importance of good quality early intervention in a child’s learning and development. As children grow and develop in a myriad of ways there are several theories of child development, each suggesting that children develop in a similar way, yet each also stresses that different parts of development are of primary importance. Maslow (1970) cited in Hartley-Brewer (1998) believes that children cannot learn and develop until their basic needs are met such as food, warmth and security. When these are met then a child must feel safe and secure before they can learn which according to Maslow (1970) is high up the ladder of needs before they reach the top which is self-actualisation. Geraghty (1988) suggests “love, security, consistency and continuous affection, and opportunities for independence lead to a positive self-image” (p.104) As a Sure Start practitioner...
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...creative arts in a kindergarten classroom. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and analyze how play and creative arts activities enhance and support children’s learning in literacy and numeracy lessons. Qualitative methods were used to gain data that reflect on the implementation of play and creative arts strategies and activities in teaching and the interpretation collected from participants. The three types of tools that used to collect data are observations, interviews and a reflective journal to ensure validity of results. After analyzing the data, two interrelated themes emerged. The first theme highlights the benefits of play and creative arts in early childhood. The second theme shows the benefits of using them can support literacy and numeracy development. Consequently play and creative arts seems to promote development in children’s learning processes and they also offer the learners’ confidence in their learning. To conclude, this study shows that play and creative arts may have positive effect in improving the children’s overall performance and attitudes. Play and creative arts are important aspects of children’s learning that are being used in kindergartens. This action research project explores the using of play and creative arts in a kindergarten classroom. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and analyze how play and creative arts activities enhance and support children’s learning in literacy and numeracy lessons. Qualitative methods were used to gain data...
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