Chapter 1

A Developmental Perspective on Educating Infants and Toddlers

Chapter 1Chapter 1

Introduction Taking a Developmental

Perspective Using a Developmental Profile Theories on Child Development Current Trends in Development and

Education Valuing Cultural Diversity

IntroductionIntroduction Core body of knowledge Standards for quality

Teacher preparationProgramming for young children

NAEYC standards Important: building strong, respectful,

reciprocal relationships

Taking a Developmental Perspective

Each child’s genetic code interacts with environmental factors to result in “full potential”

From the moment of birth, the child and the people around the child affect each other

Teachers must learn to be mindful in all of their interactions

Magda Gerber

10 principles of caregiving

Four Developmental DomainsFour Developmental Domains

Physical Emotional Social Cognitive/language

Learn to recognize the normative patterns or milestones so you can easily recognize and honor the unique patterns each child demonstrates

Sample Developmental Profile

Page 8 Chronological Age? What areas are the lowest for this

child? What areas are highest? Name a few activities that could

help in the low areas.

Historical PerspectivesHistorical PerspectivesPast theories and viewsPast theories and views

John LockeJean-Jacques

RousseauCharles DarwinG. Stanley HallArnold GesellAlfred Binet

Sigmund FreudErik EriksonJohn WatsonB.F. SkinnerAlbert BanduraJean Piaget

Current PerspectivesCurrent Perspectives Theories and ViewsTheories and Views

Attachment theory Bowlby

Brain Development Ecological Systems theory

Bronfenbrenner Sociocultural theory

Vygotsky

Current PerspectivesCurrent Perspectives Needs and TrendsNeeds and Trends

Respect the child Microsystem today is very different

Cultural differences: customs, family structures, parenting styles

Mesosystem-child care settingsFamily grouping, continuity of care,

primary caregiving, partnerships Macrosystem-government

Valuing Cultural DiversityValuing Cultural Diversity

Embrace and value diversity Cross-cultural curriculum Knowledge: personal experience

and educational base Need to ‘get to know’ our families

and use that knowledge to create curriculum