Childcare Blog 3.
19.02.13
Hannah
Cochrane
Title: ‘A Report Detailing
Child Development Theories’
Terms
of Reference
Professor
Audrey Babka from the University of Warshaw is carrying out research on child
development and has asked for a report on John Bowlby’s theory of attachment
and Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. It was asked for on the 9th
February 2012 and was to be sent through email to be read and marked.
Recommendations were not needed.
Procedure
The
research for this report was carried out during class time, by using textbooks,
Internet and hand-outs. It was clear that both theorists supported two
different aspects of child development. Then through research it was clear to
tell the differences in the theories and how to give examples of how each is
used in current practise.
Findings
1.0
John
Bowlby was an emotional, personal and social theorist, and claimed that the
first five years of a child’s life is the most important and it is these years
that can determine how a child would act throughout adulthood.
This
theory stated that a bond between a mother and child is very important. However
if the two are separated, the child can become distressed and in serious cases
can become delinquent.
Bowlby
used naturalistic observations as a type of research method; this meant that
while visiting a nursery environment, observations and tests of the children’s
behaviour and environment were taken. Naturalistic observations can be an
easier way to collect information as it is taken place in a child’s natural environment
and it quite easy to collect, not time consuming.
This
theory was criticised however because it narrowly focussed on the relationship
between a mother and child. Also it ignored the possibility of children
developing a number of bonds/attachments.
This
theory is still used today in practise, for example when a child is starting
nursery, induction or visiting days will be organised in order for the child to
meet the workers and become accustomed to the environment before attending on a
more full time basis. Also in older life, parents may be offered the chance of
a ‘parents night’, which can be used as a way to feedback to the parents of
child’s growth and development.
2.0
Jean
Piaget was a cognitive theorist who focussed mainly on the growth of a child’s
learning and experiences.
Piaget
claimed that four main stages are present to complete in a child’s cognitive
development and that a child cannot move onto the next stage of development
until the stage before has been completed.
The
first stage is the sensory motor stage which takes place mainly in 0-2 year old
children, then moves on to the pre-operational stage containing 2-7 year olds,
then comes the concrete operational stage with 7-11 and finally the formal
operational stage which is mainly based around 11-18 year olds.
Jean
Piaget was criticised for the theory however as the research and information
was collected from his own children! Also it was said that during the
experiments, Piaget used language that was far too difficult for the children
to understand and therefore it made the experiment not completely reliable.
The
theory in practise is used today as children still develop through different
stages of learning at different ages. Also children can develop quicker,
depending on the amount of life experiences and opportunities that is given to
them.
Conclusion
To
conclude the two theorists both stand for different aspects of a child’s
development. Piaget says that children learn and develop cognitively through 4
main stages. Bowlby says that by separating a mother and child can provide life
long effects for the child’s social development. Though both are used in
practise today and provide good reasoning for parents to be supportive of
children when they want to grow bonds with others (friendships) and have the
best life experiences available to them.
