Write a 2- to 3-page scholarly examination of two different theoretical viewpoints including strengths and weaknesses related to Head Start’s work with children, and develop 7–10 PowerPoint slides from that paper that highlight the most relevant information for Head Start teachers and staff.
Note: Child development occurs in a specific sequence. Therefore, the assessments in this course are presented in sequence and must be completed in order.
The place of theory in the study of childhood development is to provide useful frameworks for application to actual people and situations. Theory about how children develop has changed over the years. The demand to demonstrate evidence-based practices is increasing. With these factors in mind, you will critically review material in terms of its continuing usefulness to the field.
The major theories of child development have created the foundation for current knowledge in the field of child psychology. These theories include many perspectives: psychoanalytic, humanistic, cognitive, learning, information processing, and ecological systems. Many well-known theorists have contributed to the field of child psychology, including Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, Lev Vygotsky, and Jean Piaget, to name a few. You will begin to think about how the developing child may be shaped by his or her environment and biology; whether development is a continuous, smooth process or a process of moving from stage to stage; and what part the child’s own personality characteristics play. You will examine theories of child development and explore their relevance in today’s world. Theory, research, and clinical applications are viewed today through a sociocultural lens (contexts that until fairly recently have been overlooked), which may partly determine the applicability and longevity of theory over time.
The field of child psychology has undergone a period of dramatic expansion. New understanding about how the brain continues to develop after birth and how the child’s physiology interacts with his or her sociocultural context has increased our understanding of child psychology. This evolving knowledge can be studied with respect to traditional developmental theories. Professionals who work with children are now in the role of providing education and guidance about how to apply this information with the goal of supporting children’s optimal development.
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