Understanding Child Development Theories

This assignment delves into influential theories that shape our understanding of child development. It examines Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory, Bowlby's Attachment Theory, and Jerome Bruner's Theory of Intellectual Development. The analysis incorporates relevant research studies and illustrations to demonstrate the application of these theories in explaining social-behavioral development in children.

Lone parenting on
children’s social
behavioural development
age 0-8 years

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
Aims.......................................................................................................................................1
Objectives...............................................................................................................................1
Outline of the project .............................................................................................................1
Literature review ...................................................................................................................2
Analysis and critique of Lone parenting on children’s social behavioural development age 0-8
years........................................................................................................................................6
Detailed analysis.....................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION AND FINDINGS ...............................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Lone parenting is the situation where only single parent of the child is responsible for his
materialistic, social, emotional and financial needs. Lone parenting on children social
behavioural development age 0-8 is the most crucial stage because it is the growing stage of the
child in which the individual becomes very vulnerable to changes and basic needs (Scheeringa,
Weems and Guthrie, 2011). Handling child alone in its growing period demonstrate its behaviour
development which is represented by their surroundings and environment. When the child is
grown under lone parenting situation then either the child gets vulnerable to changes or gets
stressed and isolated. The situation of the child and their behaviour is very critical which denotes
that lone parenting of child plays vital role in Children behavioural development. Thus, it is
important for the parent to ensure that the child is brought up in positive environment of learning
and care.
Aims
To understand the concept of lone parenting and assess its relationship with children’s
social behavioural development of age group 0-8.
Objectives
 To identify the key issues of lone parenting and its impact on children’s social
behavioural development.
 To determine the challenges faced by professionals including practitioners and teachers
within settings and school.
 To analyse the strategies used by professionals and families to support children’s social
behavioural development.
 To evaluate challenges when working with lone parent and the strategies which lead to
the children’s social behavioural development between the families and school.
Outline of the project
The project will evaluate the concept of lone parenting and its impacts on the behaviour
of children under age group of 0 to 8 years. Further, it will outline the analysis of various authors
over the strategies used by professional and families of Child who is handled by single parent. It
will determine the roles of children's right which are enhanced by the government of country to
protect the interest and participation of child in society. Thus, it will analyse the various aspects
and key issues which impacts the behaviour development of child of single parent.
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Literature review
According to Achenbach and Edelbrock, 2011, lone parenting is the most crucial part for
the parent as it demonstrates the social behavioural development of child. It is important for the
single parent to provide the best and positive environment to child to support its growth and
behavioural changes. 0-8 years is the stage of child growth where the individual quickly grasps
the environment, things and changes which assist and influence them entire their life. Statutory
framework for early year's foundation stage, 2017, states that the child must be provided safe
and healthy surroundings to grow. However, it has been critically argued that providing range of
teachings and knowledge to children according to their age group but majorly it focuses on
establishing quality and consistency where the practitioner focuses that the child is doing is good
and is not left behind in progress. On the other hand, EYFS ensures that the child is provided
opportunities according to his or her interest and under this foundation the growth and progress
of child is the partnership between the child's parent and professional. Thus, EYFS ensures that
the individuals are getting equal opportunity of growth without any discrimination.
Anthony and et.al., 2015, has stated that single parenting is the most stressful job as the
parent is alone responsible for handling all types of child's needs. It is the most challenging part
of parent life where the person faces various issues such as maintaining discipline in child which
sometime leads to behavioural changes in children. In contrary, according to Scheeringa, Weems
and Guthrie, 2011, it has been argued that handling the child keeping in kind love of both the
parents is the most crucial part because with this change the child turns vulnerable. Moreover,
lone parenting becomes more difficult when the parent has to handle the child of 0 to 8 years
because it is the growth stage of children where the individuals are very sensitive and therefore,
the parent cannot leave the child alone in any case but on the other hand, the financial stability
and resource is also the responsibility of lone parent. In cases if the parent leaves the child alone,
then it is the situation which impacts the overall behavioural and growth of child in which the
child becomes stressed and isolated because according to them, the individuals are different and
no one has time for them. Apparently, the positivity and negativity of situation influence the
mentality of child for a long term, therefore, it is important for the lone parent for establish
effective communication with the child in order to analyse his basic needs and wants which will
reflect its social behavioural development. According to Lawrence Kohlberg, it has been stated
that the behavioural development of child is analysed with the help of 3 steps that is, pre
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conventional in which the behaviour of child is based on the punishment and rude behaviour of
people with them which can be of parent, family member, professional etc. Therefore it is
important for lone parent to focus on treating child in right manner. Secondly the behaviour of
child changes with the rule of society like the child of lone parent is treated different in society
which is a unethical and awful practice and family should take care of not allowing the child to
stay in this type of environment for long. Lastly, the post conventional stage in which child
behaviour changes and gets impacted by the moral principles of the country therefore it is
important for the parent to keep their child in environment where they get right of participation
for establishing improvement in their social behavioural development.
In accordance, as per the views of Black and et.al., 2017, it has been analysed that there
are various challenges faced by the professional who provide caring and learning of the child of
lone parent like the children of single parent who are under age group 0 to 8 are either aggressive
or silent. Therefore, is quite challenging for the service providers to handle such children.
Nevertheless, according to author, It is the duty of practitioners to first understand the situation
of child and then involving them in learning activities. The major challenge for the professional
is to plan inclusion for the child because children who grow under the eye of single parent are
vulnerable and their behaviours are unpredictable. Further, determining the needs of child plays
the most crucial part for professional when planning inclusion of child. In this, it is important for
professional to understand and make use of effective learning cycle process according to the
mind and behaviour of child (Scheeringa, Weems and Guthrie, 2011). Apart from this, in
contrary Mawson, 2011 argued that every lone parent child is different from each other.
Therefore, it takes time for the professional to analyse the strategy which can assist in managing
child's learning and behaviour. Moreover, according to author it has been stated the social
behavioural development problems is generally faced by the child of lone parent.
According to Black and et.al., 2017, there are various strategies used by professional to
support the behaviours and child development. The first practice used by single parent and
professional for enhancing the participation of child in activities and with people is open
communication where the children are taught to interact with everyone and get involve in every
type of communication which will helps in developing their social behaviour and learning.
However, Kanyal, 2014, has argued that speaking about your feelings honestly will resolve
various matters and real-life issues which leads to stress. The strategy of communicating
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effectively assist professional, family and child in reducing the chance of getting stressed and
developing an understanding over each other’s problems. Apart from the basic strategy used by
professional and families to enhance the behaviour and child development is providing them the
conformable environment to grow and learn where the individuals feel comfortable. Providing
equal opportunities to children according to their age group is the best tactic which assist in
children’s social behavioural development. It can argue with the theory of Jerome Bruner, where
the author stated that child social behavioural development is based on connection between
thoughts and language. Providing learning environment child is the best to seek their attention
and promote their behavioural development. In his learning, the author focused on enactive in
which the parent should allow their children to play with books. Iconic which is focused on
learning by images and pictures and Symbolic where the child allowed to read.
FACT SHEET: The right to participation, 2017, states that there are several provisions
which ensure the equal participation of child in all activities and it discusses the rights of child
which cannot be exploited. Article 12 of convention states that every child has the right to
involve in society like, families, communities and school. Further, it states that every child has
the right to express his or feeling without any discrimination. In addition, it conveys that when
the child is allowed to express their feelings than it demonstrate their decision-making process.
Apparently, it has been argued that the children's have right to express and have their own
opinion with regard to any emotion or feeling. According to convention it has been analysed that
when the child is allowed to express its opinions and feelings then it denotes their ability of
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Illustration 1: Learning styles by Jerome Bruner for social behavioural
development of child
Source: (BRUNER’S THEORY OF INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT.
2012)

influencing decisions which need to be encourages in order to promote social behavioural
development of children.
Mawson, 2011, has stated that changing behaviours of child according to situation assist
the professional in framing policies and practices. Like, if the child is aggressive an in inclusions
plans then the practitioners sets strict and motivating guidelines to encourage child participation
in learning activities whereas if the child is vulnerable and do not adapt changes quickly then the
teacher and families focuses on turning learning practices according to comfort of the child. On
the other hand the author states that child of lone parent loses trust on everyone and tries to
distance themselves from the social activities and it is somewhere the duty of single parent to
look after their actions which influence child social behavioural development. According to
author it has been stated that social behaviour development child is dependent on the
surroundings around him or her, if the parents will keep environment positive then it will help
them in boosting child morale otherwise if the child will grow p in negative environment them it
will directly impact his or her behaviour because of which they can become aggressive and
vulnerable. Demonstrating own behavioural changes are the contribution of child which assist
the professional in formulating effective policies and practices. However, Wiener and et. al.,
2016 has argued that acknowledging the needs and wants of child is the best tactic which assist
the practitioners and families in implementing best learning practices according to child's
grasping ability. Every child is different from each other and have different learning and
grasping habits therefore it is important for the schools and communities to formulate policies
and practices which are according to child and are easily acceptable. Henceforth, as per the view
of Scheeringa, Weems and Guthrie, 2011, it has been determined that the Lone parenting on
children’s social behavioural development age 0-8 years is the most difficult part as in this, it is
important for the families and professional to understand the different behaviours of child
according to situation. Enabling the condition according to the comfort zone of single parent
child is the best strategy to establish their involvement and increase their participation. The
social behaviour development of lone parent child is the toughest task for the practitioners
because these children do not accept the external environment easily.
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Analysis and critique of Lone parenting on children’s social behavioural development age 0-8
years
According to the views of Scheeringa, Weems and Guthrie, (2011), development of
single parent child is most difficult part because manipulation and playing with the mind of child
is the riskiest situation and factor for parents. Moreover, it is important for the parent to divert
the mind of child and turn it into ability to learn and develop. Apparently behavioural changes in
child can be developed when the individual is in its growing age because in between of 0 to 8 the
mind of child is adaptive and sensitive and therefore it is important for the parent to establish
learning environment which will encourage child in its future life. Further, Mawson, (2011)
added that the child between age group of 0 to 8 understand and grasp the environment very
easily therefore in accordance to EYFS it is important for the parent and professional to provide
positive and learning environment for the child especially to the lone parent child. The care and
learning centre are focused on providing appropriate an adequate condition to child according to
its requirement and the learning are focused on boosting child's morale. However, in contrary
according to author it has been determined that handling the child by lone parent is most difficult
part of the child's development therefore it is important to establish appropriate action and
inclusion plan for the child to encourage their participation in seeking learning opportunities.
Further, it is important for the parents to understand the emotions and feelings of children's in
order to divert their minds from the negativity of real life.
On the other hand, Harland and Kinder, (2017) argued that if the parent focus on
providing comfortable environment to child them it negatively impacts its growth and
development because the child become addict to luxury and comfortable environment due to
which the person becomes vulnerable to future changes. It has bee argued that most lone parents
handle their child very strictly and due to which children's isolates themselves from external
world. It is important for the parents to manage the discipline for the child but on the same end it
is the duty of family to provide safe and healthy environment to grow and learn. Further, in
accordance to aggressive behaviour of children, the professional and families should focus on
diverting the minds of individual with the help of extra curricular activities according to the
interest if child.
Also, Wiener and et. al., (2016) stated that as per the participation rights mentioned in
fact sheet every child has right to get involved in societal activities without any discrimination
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but there are people in many communities who do not support the inclusion of child of lone
parent which is giving rise of discrimination and exploitation of the child participation right
(Wiener and et. al., 2016). There are several families in society which do not support the
inclusion of single parent child with their children because according to this family of society
involvement of lone parent child with their children will harm the behavioural development of
their child. However, it is complete opposite because when the society discriminate between
children then it creates curiosity among children about the uniqueness due to which the social
behavioural development of lone parent children.
Black and et.al., (2017), has argued that the development of children in school through
common practices contributes in formulating effective policies and practices. On the other hand
Anthony and et.al., (2015) stated that if the family and learning centre frames the practices
according to comfort level of children and in future the children will not resist the changes which
will create problems of families and professional. Therefore, amending the procedure according
to comfort of child is important but the formulation process is focused on child development and
not on his or her vulnerability.
Detailed analysis
According to the views of Cain, (2015), there exist a varied range of issues in lone
parenting. These challenges are not only developing barriers in the way of single parent but also
affecting the appropriate development of a child. It should be recognised that children are
immature to understand the elderly facts, issues that lead to splitting, etc. In order to understand
and explore the reasons behind the things their innocence gets exploited. Further, children
always believes in comparing thing with their friends, school mates, etc. In this order, friends of
them getting raised by both the parents can highly impact on their mind. This is the major cause
that harms their behaviour. It brings many issues such as jealousy, bad thoughts, mental
instability, etc. In addition to this, such children always seeks for higher attention, love and care
which makes them extreme moody (Wiener and et. al., 2016). Further, they have to face
problems at various stages of life. The smaller parts of life such as filling general forms asking
for the details for parents can harm them and their feelings. They start observing other negative
aspects of every incident that happens with them. Moreover, lone parenting can even make the
child negative towards life. Further, children with lone parent are comparatively introverted and
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shy. They do not reveal their feelings easily which can trouble their parents in identifying the
factors which are affective the social behaviour of their child.
On the other hand, Harland and Kinder, (2017) stated that it depends on the type of
upbringing that is carried by the alone parent in raising the child. The behaviour of children is
based on the efforts made by the single parent in raising them. There are various instances
observed where the children were more happy with single parent. Thus, they are the parents,
their beliefs, determination, affection, bond and efforts towards their children which is
responsible for their behavioural development. It should be noted that. lone parents who renders
less attention, care and love to their child are more inclined to harm their behaviour. They seeks
for getting these things from external sources which can exploit or abuse them (Van Lieshout
and et. al., 2015) . In addition to this, the societal influence also creates challenges to the single
parents in performing their tasks effectively. It has been observed that most of the time the high
pressure of society for committing with a person for the impelling care of children leads to failed
relations that further affects the determination of single parent. It should be moreover recognise
that this failure makes them more weaker in raising their children. On the other hand, Wiener and
et. al., (2016) explained that even when the new relation gets successful then also children can
never feel the attachment as they would have felt with the real father/mother. This issue also
makes them losing the strength of bond with the single parent too. A sense of loneliness is
observed by them that further leads to severe issues such as mental instability, emotional affect,
substance consuming, etc. They starts losing trust in everyone and tries to distance themselves
from the social; things. Thus, in this way, it is somewhere the single parent and their actions
which impacts on the social behavioural development of a child.
As per the model of Albert Bandura (1925) learning is a gradual and continuous process
having least relation with the heredity. It is further added that they can be biological factors that
impacts on the learning ability of children but heredity is not the reason. The major area that
dominates the social behaviour of child is the environment. It can be stated that development is a
sequence of specific conditional behaviours.
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In contrary to this, John Bowlby's (1907-1990) states that the relationship between
children and their parents plays a key role in their behaviour. This model further emphasise that
children are born with specific type of behaviour that influence parents and people near to them.
In context to single parent this become more impactive as the lone parent will have to deal with
it. They are thus entailed to perform those activities that can develop a sense of high level of
attachment with the children to later their behaviour.
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Illustration 2: Albert Bandura's theory
Source: Social learning theory, 2017

Scheeringa, Weems and Guthrie, (2011), stated that, it is not difficult only for the lone
parent to deal with the child but also professionals and teachers suffers in dealing with such
child. They have to handle the mood swings of the children. There are various instances
observed where the behaviour of children with single parent have dominated over their patience
and leads to involve them in unacceptable activities such as fighting, etc. Professional are
entailed to develop effective tactics to deal with such students. These children are mentally and
emotionally weak as compared to the others who are raised by both the parents. Sometimes it
may happen that the equal behaviour of teachers with every student can affect them. It is because
of the fact that they always feel a sense of getting less as compared to other children and here the
similar practices adopted by teachers can demotivate them.
As per the views of Wiener and et. al., (2016), there exist different strategies that can be
adopted by the families and professionals to support children's' social behavioural development.
It entails extra love and care to deal with these children. The author added that parents and
teachers should taught them rights and wrongs with positive attitude without dominating them.
Wiener and et. al., (2016) critiqued the statement by saying that it should be however recognised
that such children are more mature as compared to the other as they have always dealt with the
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Illustration 3: Working model of attachment
Source: McLeod., 2007

different issues. Hence, they can get the suggestions from parents and professionals easily but
they are supposed to render their message clearly without hiding any fact so that they attain their
trust. Children with single parents should learn to trust people without judging them on various
aspects. As mentioned above children with single parents are comparatively shy and are
introverted. In this order, professionals should pay attention on formation of effective relations
with them by gaining their trust so that they can share their issues with them.
It can be further stated that there are various programmes undertaken by the government
and administrative bodies to ensure provision of equal rights and opportunities to all children.
Further, strict legislations are framed for those who perform and bias activity on this basis.
According to the Article 12 of convention it is essential to involve every children in the different
activities by school, families and communities regardless of the fact that they are raised by single
parent (Cain, 2015). Also, equal rights and respect are reserved for all the single parents so that
they can perform effective upbringing of their child without facing any issue in it. Also, strict
laws are formulated for the ones who applies any influence on lone parents and their children.
CONCLUSION AND FINDINGS
The report summarised the concept of lone parenting where single parent of the child is
responsible for it materialistic, social, emotional and financial needs. It analysed the provision
enhanced by government to establish equal participation of child in all activities and it discusses
the rights of child which cannot be exploited. Further, in accordance to essay, it can be
recommended that the single parents should focus on determining the emotional need of child
before anything because it is the only strategy which will assist the parent in connecting
effectively with the Child. Apart from this, the essay outlined the aim on which the writing is
focused that understand the concept of lone parenting and assessing its relationship with
children’s social behavioural development of age group 0-8. With regard to aim, the essay
evaluated the common practices which are considered by professional when handling lone parent
child which is to understand the situation of child and then involving them in learning activities.
Furthermore, the essay critical analysed the arguments of author which are based on
objectives like participation rights mentioned in fact sheet which states that every child has right
to get involved in societal activities without any discrimination however there are people in
many communities who do not support the inclusion of child of lone parent which is giving rise
of discrimination and exploitation of the child participation right. In accordance to this it can be
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recommended that the government and educational institution should organise an awareness
campaign in which it should focus on the development of lone parent's child development in
which it should aim at making people understand the importance of understanding the situation f
child because there are few situations in real life which can arise with any individual in the
community. Hence, the essay concluded by analysing the situation of lone parent and child
development which states that the policies and learning practices at care and education centre
are formulated by focusing on learning and development of children and not on his or her
vulnerability.
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REFERENCES
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Anthony, L. G. and et.al., 2015. The relationships between parenting stress, parenting behaviour
and preschoolers' social competence and behaviour problems in the classroom. Infant
and Child Development. 14(2). pp.133-154.
Black, M.M. and et.al., 2017. Early childhood development coming of age: science through the
life course. The Lancet. 389(10064). pp.77-90.
Cain, R., 2015. Work at all costs? the gendered impact of Universal Credit on lone-parent and
low-paid families. Engenderings.
Harland, J. and Kinder, K., 2017. Teachers' continuing professional development: framing a
model of outcomes. British Journal of In-service Education. 23(1). pp.71-84.
Kanyal, M., (ed) 2014. Children’s Rights 0-8 : Promoting participation in education and care.
London: Routledge
Mainland, M., Shaw, S. and Prier, A., 2015. Fearing fat: Exploring the discursive links between
childhood obesity, parenting, and leisure. Journal of Leisure Research. 47(2). pp.202.
Mawson, B., 2011. ‘Children’s Leadership Strategies in Early Childhood’. Journal of Research
in Childhood Education. 25(4). pp.327-338.
Scheeringa, M. S., Weems, C. F. and Guthrie, D., 2011. Trauma‐focused cognitive‐behavioral
therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in three‐through six year‐old children: A
randomized clinical trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 52(8). pp.853-
860.
Van Lieshout, R. J. and et. al., 2015. Measurement invariance across parent and self-ratings of
extremely low birth weight survivors and normal birth weight controls in childhood and
adolescence on the Child Behavior Checklist and Youth Self-Report. Journal of
pediatric psychology. 40(8). pp.825-833.
Wiener, L., and et. al., 2016. Impact of Caregiving for a Child With Cancer on Parental Health
Behaviors, Relationship Quality, and Spiritual Faith: Do Lone Parents Fare
Worse?. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing. 33(5). pp.378-386.
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FACT SHEET: The right to participation. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
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