Explain How Child Development Influence Current Practice

Child development theories have greatly affected current practices in education settings.

Social and emotional development are divided into

• Biological theories: which state child’s personality, intelligence and reactions comes from biological parents.

• Learning theories: which state how social environment impacts child’s behaviour and they learn from their good or bad experiences.

• Psychoanalytic theories: These combine both above theories. Which means that a child develops with pre-set personality and builds it further with observations and experiences.

Albert Bandura’s theory of social learning suggests that children learn by observing people around. Parents are child’s first teachers and role models. Child’s cultural views and belief system is generally identical with his/her parents/carers.

In school settings Teachers become role models for children. It is important for teachers and supporting staff to always demonstrate best practices as children observe and learn from them. In current practices we ensure teachers and supporting staff dress properly, do not use rough language or display rude behaviour. In situations of disruption they act calmly and fairly with children.

At home children having strong bonds with primary carers makes them confident and helps their self-esteem. In school

teachers bond with children by being warm and affectionate to them. Avoiding biased approach or favouritism help children have confidence in them. Teachers do not confront child in classroom in front of peers which helps them understand their self-image. Supporting their needs of safety by providing safe and secure learning environment also makes them confident.

B.

F. Skinner’s behaviour theory states Children learn from their experience. For e.g. if a child gets told-off for tearing pages from a book, he/she does not repeat the same act. In school teachers appreciate good behaviour by praise, smileys or stickers which encourages them to continue behaving well. Teachers give timeout or detentions in case child displays wrong behaviour. For e.g. pushing peers, hitting/kicking other children or throwing classroom equipment at peers, speaking rudely, disrupting the session, etc. Both positive and negative rewards become part of child’s experience and they learn about acceptable social behaviour and develop their own

personality.

Howard Gardner states that children have different learning preferences or individual styles. Some learn by listening to instructions (Auditory), some learn by reading about it or watching video (Visually), while some learn by experimenting it (kinaesthetically) or by touching and feeling it (tactilely). In school teacher and supporting staff always plan a lesson and material which caters to different learning needs of children. For e.g. children read about how plants grow, explore different plants in school garden, discuss plant structure in the class, make models of plant structure and grow a plant from seed.

Children have their own areas of interests. Some enjoy painting, some enjoy music or sports. In school, curriculum is designed to match different everybody’s interest and provide opportunity to explore other subjects. It includes history, geography, mathematics, science, literacy, music, physical education, etc. Also there are various after school clubs which are selected & organised by children or specialists under proper guidance to provide opportunities to enjoy their interests.