Theories and Approaches to Child Development in the Documentary Babies

The article discusses the different theories and approaches to child development showcased in the documentary Babies. It highlights the importance of social interactions, culture, and environment in a child's growth. The theories discussed include Vygotsky cognitive development theory, Bronfenbrenner ecosystem theory, attachment theory by Mary Ainsworth, and Erik Erickson's theory of psychosocial development.

RUNNING HEADER: Psychology
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Part 1:14:30 Min
Childs age: 3 months
Activity: playing with rattle toys
Analysis and contrast
As seen in this particular scene, the father stands over Mari and vigorously shakes a rattle over
her face. This done while he is talking over the phone and also allows Mari to crawl bout since
he is literally distracted. The rattle makes Mari excited this growing her emotions.
The psychological speculations of youngster advancement center on how a tyke's points of view
change through the span of adolescence. Extraordinary compared to other realized psychological
speculations is Jean Piaget's hypothesis of subjective improvement.
Ideas, for example, patterns, egocentrism, convenience, and osmosis are key to Piaget's
hypothesis. Each phase of advancement is set apart by particular changes in how youngsters
consider themselves, others and the world.
In Piaget's theory there are:
1. The Sensorimotor Stage, which happens right off the bat in life between the times of birth
and two. Amid this time, a tyke finds out about the world through their tangible observations and
engine collaborations (Martin, 2012). It is a period of surprising psychological change as
youngsters gain a lot of information about their general surroundings. Gross motor skills are
developed as Bayar is swindled and other childlike Mari, Ponijao are seen to start wriggling,
crawling and attempting to stand.
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The child bracket is between ages of zero and 2 years. This child experiences the life through the
utilization of self-senses and movement. In this case the child seem to develop object
performance having the ability to understand that object often are in existence. They also begin
to understand clearly that their immediate actions can result to other actions. This involves a goal
directed behavior. The child in the video at this level is able to reverse actions and could not
literally reverse thinking. Mari and Hattie are exposed to a modern environment playing with
decent toys and computers in order to learn and develop.
In comparison, Bayar and Ponijao in Namibia are in another environment interacting and playing
with nature such as sticks and small animals. The director of babies documentary Thomas
Balemes shows that a child usually behave on his own learning environment. Children also
develops various schemes that are highly mental indications of various individuals, objects and
ideological representations. These can be changed through assimilation and also accommodation.
Vygotsky theory
Stage: Child responding to surrounding
In contrast Lev Vygotsky issued a different opinion to Piaget’s stages of child development. This
is through his socio-cultural theory of development. It indicates that children develop through
social interactions and existing culture which is very distinct from Piagets that state that children
learn on their environment. He indicates that culture shapes children cognitive development.
Mari and Hattie are in a different environment and culture from Ponijao in Namibia and
Bayar.Ponijao is often seen grabbing rock while Bayar pulling tissues .Mari in japan plays with
sticker and other manipulatives.This is also seen as physical development which makes them
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have various abilities to explore and interact with the world around them as indicated by
Vygotsky theory of child responding to surrounding.
In contrasts Vygotsky uses scaffolding principle which shows that children are given a clue on
how to solve the problem in order to make better problem solving skills in future. However
Piaget would assume that children does not have mental structures yet required to solve
challenges. Thus Vygotsky in this case issues various encouragement strategies to solve the
children’s problem. Private speech as language development is also a principle in Lev Vygotsian
theory of child development. It utilizes private guide actions and help to thinking levels. In
contrast Piagets argues that private speech is quite egocentric while Vygotsky argues on
significance of speech. He also indicates the significance of various vital cultural tools in
children cognition.
Recommendation
The main recommendation is children interactive play activity.
The Rattle and mat play play is much recommended since it enables children to [lay together and
become more socially interactive.
Both piaget and Vygotsky believes that there exist difficulties in proximal development out of
the range of children basic understanding.Conversely,in contrasts,Liv Vygotsky argues that when
children are provided with efficient care and aid, they would perform actions effectively while
piagets considers them to be out of the child mental roles (Masten, & Narayan,2012).
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Piaget and Vygotsky differ in learning approach.Piaget emphasizes on discovery learning with
minimal educators intervention but on the other hand Vygotsky advocates for a clear guide
discovery in the child classroom setting.
Children should progress through maturation, discovery techniques and various social
transmissions. Principles like scaffolding, use of dialogue, culture techniques and knowledge
should be utilized in the acquisition of child development (Sampson, 2017). Various social
interactions and emphasis on activity and play in children should be recommended
Piaget clarified youngsters' advancement as far as their psychological improvement. Piaget
trusted that youngsters think uniquely in contrast to grown-ups. As indicated by Piaget, their
advancement is to a great extent because of development of the mind and sensory system and
dynamic investigation of nature.
33:14 Min
Child age: 8 to 12 months
Activity: Enrichment music class
Theory Attachment theory (Mary Ainsworth)
Analysis and contrast
In the documentary the child has been taken to music classes.Mari interacts with other children
and also becomes joyful when exposed to the entertaining music. She seem attached to her
mother since her mother supports and stays with other during the music class. This is a mode of
learning for children development as indicated by the attachment theory.
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RUNNING HEADER: Psychology
Ainsworth (1970) recognized three principle connection styles, secure (type B), insecure
avoidant (type an) and insecure resistant (type C)
(Singh, Wexler, Astle-Rahim, Kamawar, & Fox,2016).
Wen, & Lin, 2012). The existing attachment caregiver like Mari”s mother may pull back from
aiding amid troublesome undertakings and is not present to the child amid times of passionate
misery or various child emotional distress.
The third attachment style recognized by Ainsworth (1970) was insecure ambivalent (likewise
referred to as insecure resistant)
(Yeager, Trzesniewski, & Dweck, 2013). At the point when troubled they are hard to alleviate
and are not helped by connection with the connection figure. This conduct results from a
conflicting dimension of reaction to their requirements from the essential parental figure.
Recommendation
Mari visiting the music class makes her become joyful and be entertained as way to help her
grow physically and mentally. Through being exposed to the music, anger issues can be
controlled and emotionally develop the kid through abilities such as music.
In the video I can recommend that the child should always mingle with other children in order to
gain self-esteem and so that she can learn from others.
In order to ensure enrichment, parents have the role to encourage the child to play with peers.
This is highly recommended since it helps the child to be more independent and confident
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RUNNING HEADER: Psychology
Ainsworth's maternal affectability speculation contends that a youngster's attachment style is
reliant on the conduct their mom appears towards them.
• 'Sensitive' moms are receptive to the tyke's needs and react to their inclinations and
emotions effectively. Touchy moms are bound to have safely joined youngsters.
• In contrast, fathers and mums who are less delicate towards their kid, for instance, the
individuals who react to the youngster's needs erroneously or who are fretful or overlook the kid,
are probably going to have insecurely attached children.
In this case the zoo visit makes the child have the chance to bond and interact with other kids.
Child age:
44:31 min scene
Activity: Zoo visit
Bronfenbrenner ecosystem theory
Analysis and contrast
The child when taken to visit the zoo is seen to cry when viewing the tiger and gorilla. This is
exposing the child to the surrounding and ecosystem in order to learn and interact with other
children and nature such as the wild animals. It also indicates having trust towards their parents.
Nature help children to grow by interacting with the environment and culture. They do this as
result of Bronfenbrenner ecosystem theory.
The theory shows that person’s development is believed to be affected by the available
surrounding. Urie Bronfenbrenner was in the position to categorize the child's development in
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five different stages or levels (Martin, 2012).Each development level determines key virtues in
the development of the child. The video shows how the five stages have influenced the
development of the child.
In the microsystem level according to the theory includes the available aspects surrounding the
child. For example, the home grounds, the family members and the school interactions will
facilitate the development of the child. All the interaction experienced in these surroundings
accelerates the child's development. The aspect of ecosystem will include the interactions of the
child with the different sections of the person microsystem (Masten & Narayan, 2012). Most of
these interactions tend to have negative impacts on the child. From the video, the ecosystem
approach is exhibited through interactions of the child with his parents and other members. If all
the systems are working well the child will have positive development virtues but if the system
fails the child develops negative attitudes. On viewing the ecosystem aspect it will include those
approaches which tend to separate an individual but still inducing various effects. For example, if
family not in good terms the child will be affected. When parents are away the child will be
affected. On accounting, the issue of macro system Bronfenbrenner theory shows how different
places and people still influence the development of the child. The level includes those virtues
such as cultural virtues and beliefs which influences a child's development. Also, the theory
explains the chronosystem level by showing how family structure, parent's employment status,
economic styles, and political aspects influence the child's development (Sampson, 2017).
Recommendation
Hattie and Mari are exposed to various videos of animals and nature and natural paly in order to
mentally develop.
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RUNNING HEADER: Psychology
Exposing the child to the appropriate videos such as animal videos and other natural videos
determine the development rate within the child since they build the mental capability of the
child. The chronosystem level will assist the child to access the contemporary changes while
macrosystem familiarizes the child to the cultural and social aspects (Singh,Wexler,Astle-Rahim,
Kamawar,& Fox, 2016).The child need to understand the available environment and this can be
enhanced through maximum care as seen in the video whereby the child is being introduced to
different environments. All the system surrounding the child should be integrated in the
appropriate manner thus helping to induce apt development virtues needed by the child.
Comparing and contrasting.
Different surroundings have different impacts on children. The similarity experienced according
to the theory is that the child is being introduced to the normal surrounding as it is being done to
other children. The deviation arises when the child starts to have negative attitudes towards the
surroundings. In the video, the child is being introduced to new environments, unlike other
children who constantly experience the same environment throughout (Singh et al, 2016).
Child age: Age 1-2 years old
48:24 mins scene
Activity: Child playing with manipulative
Vygotsky cognitive development theory (Trust vs. Mistrust by Erik Erickson).
The child Mari in Japan is playing with manipulative and cries very much showing anger and
emotions when the baby fails to accomplish the task while playing with the manipulatives.This is
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RUNNING HEADER: Psychology
due to Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. It lays a huge effect in child
development of both personality skills and psychological ones. It is normally seen when infants
cry so as to be fed.As evident baby Bayar and Ponijao cry as a result of their siblings and also the
baby called Hattie in san Francisco cried when in a certain Jacuzi.This indicates that children
puts their trust on the people surrounding them from their personal fear and pain.
The theory was developed by the Erickson. According to Erickson, the psychological
development of child tends to occur at age of 18 months which is approximated to be two years.
Erickson illustrated that trust vs. mistrust is the key period which determines someone's life.
(Wen & Lin, 2012).Erikson shows that trust vs. mistrust is accompanied by four major stages
which determine the development of the child. Some of the key stages of child development
exhibited in the video include the psychological conflict which determines the aspect of trust and
mistrust. The major question of the theory which is what the child can trust. As seen the child
notices that there is no adult who is the caregiver present and become quite frustrated prompting
her to cry. This shows that they trust adults as they are unable to self-regulate.
What happens based on trust and mistrust.
According to Erickson the child at early stages learns whether he or she can trust the world
available. The issues exhibited at this stage are the total care parents have to their child as seen in
the video. The magnitude of the parental care received by the child according to Erickson helps
in building trust for every child (Wen & Lin, 2012).Therefore, the theory shows that the amount
of care received by a child will measure the child's personality. At this stage, the child learns
whether the available world will cater to his or her needs. When the child cries he or she wants to
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RUNNING HEADER: Psychology
know whether there is [person available to comfort him. Also, when the child is hungry want to
know whether there is the person available to provide adequate nourishment.
Recommendation
Parents need to be available to scaffold the child. Providing appropriate support like allowing
children to interact with others and using toys facilitates child development (Yeager,
Trzesniewski & Dweck, 2013).Generally, infant ability to communicate is always limited and
therefore when the child cries he is trying to send a specific message. When the child is not
comfortable then he has to send a message whereby someone needs to be available as seen in the
video. The need for a child can be satisfied by providing maximum care whereby the response
should be quick and comforting. When one responds quickly the child is trying to build trust
unlike when there is the deficiency of response whereby the aspect of mistrust builds up.
Therefore, Erickson shows that the child builds trust depending on the available person meeting
his needs. If needs are not consistently met the child will have to develop issues of mistrust thus
sending danger messages.
Comparing and contrasting
Generally, the information indicated in the video tends to appreciate the entire concept of the
theory. The child is building maximum trust to the available personnel who are providing care
(Zimmerman, 2013).Hattie cries as result of fear when visiting the zoo and seeing wild animals
like tiger while Mari cries from failing to be able to successfully play with the
manipulatives.This is a cry of temperament and emotions. When the child cries there is the
person available to comfort. The only negation from another aspect of child development is that
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RUNNING HEADER: Psychology
the degree of child attendance not at a high rate. Through this aspect of not attending the child,
the issue of mistrust builds thus changing the child's personality.
Importance of Cognitive development
Psychological improvement gives kids the methods for focusing on contemplating their general
surroundings. This means that it enables children to mainly focus on their lives and the social
world. Psychological advancement includes a child’s working memory, consideration, just as a
kid's capacity to oversee and react to the encounters and data they encounter once a day.
Cognitive development enables children to understand their different environment and culture.
Bayar and Ponijao are in traditional cultures while Hattie and Mari are brought up in a western
culture. Bayar and Ponijao are in surrounding and cultures that only allow them to feed on
certain foods and play with rocks and sticks while Hattie and Mari plays with toys.Ponijao is
from Namibian culture who does not wear clothes. This shows that all the children will have
different cognitive and physical development due to exposure to certain risks and adaptation to
the specific environment.
• Cognitive improvement gives youngsters ability to be socially inclusive in the society and
classroom setting
• Everyday encounters can affect a youngster's subjective advancement.
• Cognitive improvement can be contrasted with a kid's airport regulation pinnacle –
learning and handling it once a day with aim and reason.
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RUNNING HEADER: Psychology
Some of the key issues in this aspect which incorporates building abilities, for example,
children’s ability to read, their linguistic approaches, numeracy and use of new vocabulary skills
usually start immediately the infant is born. As seen in the movie in cognitive development each
child had distinct environment to interact with. Mari and Hattie had various luxuries for
entertainment for example ring towers and books in order to learn and play.Ponijao and Bayar
has nature which they use to interact with. Language development exist where their caregivers
assist to their language acquisition. Hattie and Mari with their mothers show that parents help
them read children books and also being helped through participation. This is done through
maximum demonstrations and asking of questions a child who begins studying in school without
this basic cognitive development skills is at a high risk of lagging behind (Zimmerman, 2013).
Consequently cognitive development in children is better as it enables teachers to understand the
strengths and weaknesses of children in order to encourage them more. It enables a child to be
socially active and helps to improve the child appropriate behavior. It is also important as it
enables children to grow mentally, socially and physically. They are able to gain skills such as
creativity and problem solving skills in their lives.
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RUNNING HEADER: Psychology
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