The Representation Of My Early Childhood Development

Chapter two discusses various theorists that helped to mold and shape early childhood education to where it is today. There are several different theorists that contributed to the development of early childhood education. Some of these theorists include Alfred Adler, Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky, and John Dewey. Each theorist developed a unique theory that has caused early childhood guidance and education to flourish like it has today. Without learning and building on these theories, early childhood guidance and education would never develop or change. The chapter explains how some theories may seem strange to the contemporary families, but these theories are the foundation of how early childhood education got to where it is today. The book goes

My values and beliefs about early childhood are, that kids should be allowed to play and have fun while they are learning. Young kids need someone who will be patient, funny, and above all, they need someone who will be loving towards them. “Teaching young children is hard work” (Bredekamp 3). Children who fall under the category of early childhood, should have hands on activities, colorful visuals, and time where they get to choose what they want to do.

I am a student at Florida Atlantic University studying early childhood education. I am enrolled in EEC 3214 class this semester; the class is called designing and implementing a blending curriculum: birth to age eight. I am required to complete a field experience assignment at a preschool. I will observe young children ranging from three to five years old. I assure you that I will keep all information confidential. In addition, I reassure you that I will not share the information collected outside of my course and that no identifying information will be shared. I will respect and follow all the school’s policies and procedures in a professional manner.

Norton, B. et al. (2011) "Somatic Expressions of Trauma in Experiential Play Therapy" in International Journal of Play Therapy, Vol. 20, No. 3, 138 152.

Within my ten hours of observation, I witnessed an Early Childhood, Childhood, and Middle Childhood classroom. Through the duration of these hours, I visited School 17 and School 30. My seven hours at School 17 consisted of experiences within an Early Childhood and a Childhood setting. The Early Childhood hours occurred in a Pre-Kindergarten classroom setting with Ms. Mitrakos. The Childhood observations occurred in a first-grade classroom with Ms. Hordan. My three hours at School 30 involved experiences within a Middle Childhood setting. These observation hours occurred in a 6th-grade math class. My observations within both schools inspired me to continue my passion for Early Childhood Education.

After viewing the multimedia presentation, and doing some research the two major contributors of early childhood field I chose to discuss is Lyndon B. Johnson of the Headstart sector, and Marian Wright Edelman of the health and Well Beings sector. Although, there are others who were major contributors to the childhood education sector. Lyndon B. Johnson, was born in Stonewall, Texas. After, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, he was sworn in as the 36th President.

Teena Brandon was a Tran’s male born a female on December 12, 1972, in Nebraska. He was the youngest of two children. Brandon’s father tragically died in a car accident before he was born. Brandon Teena and his older sister Tammy lived with their grandmother in Nebraska, before they were taken back by their mother when Brandon was three years old, and Tammy was 6. As very young children, Teena and Tammy were sexually abused by their uncle for numerous years, and Teena wanted counseling for this in 1991. “Sexual identity development is conceptualized as the process by which a person comes to recognize his or her sexual attractions and incorporates this awareness into his or her self-identity (Mohr and

Preschool was really cool I made a few friends I remembered their faces but not too many memories. One thing that stood out was when I had to get my mouth washed out with soap it was the worst thing ever I can still the taste of the soap as I type this, yuck. Cleaned my mouth up literally and figuratively. I can remember graduation from preschool I was super excited but I think my mother was much more excited than I. She was so happy and smiling so big I can tell she was proud of me to this day she has that same feeling as I accomplish things in my life now.

Chapter eight is about promoting communication and language development in early childhood education. Early communication is mostly non-verbal. Communication goes beyond the words we use; it develops with the use of gestures, facial expressions, hand movements and positioning of our body. Some of the first displays of communication by infants include, smiling, fussing and looking at an area, person or object. Later, communication extends to give signals such as pointing, reaching and body movements to indicate a want or need. The primary functions of early communication are behavior regulation, social interaction, and calling joint attention. Students with visual impairment and other disabilities are at risk for developing communication and

Former guide writer for “Studying Early Years: A guide To Work-Based Learning” Anne Rawlings once remarked, “I am able to make a significant impact on the lives of children and families that use this setting” (127-128). Rawlings quote can be true for those who desire and want to improve lives, but how does one transform the life of another individual? Does it begin by becoming a firefighter, a police officer, or a doctor? These are excellent advances in improving lives because they all deal with helping individuals in any way. This writer will discuss about how becoming an Early Childhood Educator can reconstruct the life of a child (Rawlings 127).

For my last observation, I decided to go to a Head Start in Roselle, New Jersey. When I walked in, the children were all sitting on the carpet having circle time. As soon as I took a seat to observe, I noticed there was a child in the middle of the carpet laying on her back with her feet in the air, while all the other children were sitting correctly and listening to the teacher. The teacher called out to the child to sit correctly, and she did, but after a few minutes she would lay on her back and do the same thing all over again. She would also give her back to the teacher and didn’t seem to be interested in what everyone else was doing.

Reading this book took me to my early childhood, through my adolescent life and now to adulthood by understanding how play becomes a senses of learning with others socially, emotionally and developing skills that one would not be able to understand the ability of all our skills until they are applied. Play is the young child’s most powerful tool for learning and yet in modern childhood, free play time is being replaces by electronics (computers, cellphone, video games), competitive sports and academics. I do understand that parents are concerned that their children development would not be completed especially in this fast world if they are not placed in sports, or even some sort of academics extra curricular activities, however having free

Of the three parenting styles, the authoritative parenting style is the most effective. Children need guidance, affection, discipline, rules, and communication to help them develop. The authoritative parenting styles include all of these aspects without being too harsh or too lenient.

Chapter 5 “Early Childhood: Body and Mind” section “Thinking during Early Childhood” teaches about the cognitive development of children during early childhood at around ages 2-6 years old, in which, children targeted at this age do not use logical operations (reasoning process). Such a term is called the “Preoperational Intelligence” conducted by Piaget. Furthermore, Piaget’s preoperational thought establishes that children have language but use symbolic thought where “words can refer to things not seen and that an item, like a flag, can symbolize something else (in this case, a country).” Symbolic thought proves Animism; the belief that young children have thinking that “natural objects are alive and nonhuman animals have the same characteristics of a child” (Berger, 173).

In this essay, I will discuss my experience during middle and late childhood. I will address three stages which are the physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development. The physical development consists of body and brain growth, health issues, and motor skills. The cognitive development consists of language, memory, and attention. Socioemotional development is based on relationship, employment, and personality.