SUPPORTING CHILDREN LEARNING IN THE EARLY YEARS

Supporting Children Learning in the Early Years

Supporting Children Learning in the Early Years

Introduction

The role of attachment in childhood emotional development is imperative, as the bond of attachment in infants to the person who takes care of them, is sometimes said to lay the foundations for all later relationships. Until some forty years ago it was widely believed that the love for the mother was a direct consequence of the fact that she provided the means to satisfy basic biological needs-she provided food, warmth, physical protection and relief from pain.

Early childhood education often focuses on children learning through play. The terms preschool education and kindergarten emphasize education around the ages of 3-6 years. The terms "early childhood learning," "early care," and "early education" are comparable with early childhood education. The terms Day care and Childcare do not embrace the educational aspects. Many childcare centers are now using more educational approaches. They are creating curricula and incorporating it into their daily routines to foster greater educational learning.

Researchers in the field and early childhood educators both view the parents as an integral part of the early childhood education process[3]. Early childhood education takes many forms depending on the beliefs of the educator or parent.

Much of the first two years of life are spent in the creation of a child's first "sense of self" or the building of a first identity.[citation needed] This is a crucial part of children's makeup—how they first see themselves, how they think they should function, how they expect others to function in relation to them.[citation needed] For this reason, early care must ensure that in addition to employing carefully selected and trained caretakers, program policy must emphasize links with family, home culture, and home language, meaning caregivers must uniquely care for each child using Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Individually Appropriate Practice and Culturally Appropriate Practice. Care should support families rather than be a substitute for them.[citation needed]

If a young child doesn't receive sufficient nurturing, nutrition, parental/caregiver interaction, and stimulus during this crucial period, the child may be left with a developmental deficit that hampers his or her success in preschool, kindergarten, and beyond.

Worst-case scenarios such as those found in Russian and Romanian orphanages demonstrate how the lack of proper social interaction and development of attachment affect the developing child.[4] Children must receive attention and affection to develop in a healthy manner.

 

Case Analysis: Emotional Development of a 4 Year Old

Children like specially in the case of the 4year old Sarah themselves recognise that feelings influence actions, irrespective of the level of knowledge. For example, it has emerged while working with nine year-olds that many clearly understand the various dangers of smoking, yet they recognise that they are likely to try cigarettes in the future out of feelings of curiosity, bravado, image consciousness or a need to comply with peer expectations or pressure. The work on feelings is a key stage, in which the 4year old Sarah acknowledge and explore their own emotions and those of other ...