Early Childhood Development Assignment 2022

Childhood Learning 1
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
by [NAME]
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Childhood Learning 2
Early Childhood
Introduction
Children learn very quickly during their early years. Secure relationships between adults and
young children are important in ensuring that these children thrive. Adults specifically those who
are knowledgeable in the development of children are fundamental in early children’s learning. It
is important to note that during the early stages of a child’s development, several development
changes take place and these changes can impact the future of the child for a very long time. One
very important thing in young children is movement. This paper, therefore, aims to discuss the
importance of moving with children in an early childhood setting. The paper also discusses the
importance of movement in a child’s early learning and development.
Role of Educators
Educators in early childhood development are important in developing a child’s personality. An
educator ensures that children develop at their own pace. An educator designs a development
plan that includes a sequence of physical movement that helps in improving the child’s creativity
and physical strength (Logan et al., 2012, p. 307). It is worth noting that the incorporation of
physical activities in the life of a child is important in establishing a foundation of movement that
will influence the development of the child for the rest of their lives. Habits learned in early
childhood during physical activities increase the possibilities of a child in remaining physically
active from childhood to adulthood.
Educators also use a curriculum based on movement to improve a child’s cognitive skills. It is
important to note that cognitive learning and physical activities go hand in hand in early
childhood development. Children rarely sit still; they are always moving. Therefore, movement-

Childhood Learning 3
based learning can help in teaching cognitive skills. An educator in early childhood development
can, therefore, ensure that a child learns through movement especially by music to teach the
child about several other developmental skills. This can be done by asking a child to respond to
musical rhythm through movement.
Additionally, during a child’s transition into a new setting, educators try to share information
about the development of each child thus building the foundation for early learning (Salamon,
2011, p. 7). It is also important to note that educators use their knowledge, intuition, creativity,
and imagination to improvise their teaching plan to suit the learning needs of all children in
terms of time, context, and place. Argent et al. (2017) also argue that an educator must
understand what children pay attention to. An educator then teaches the child the importance of
attentive listening to broaden their thinking capacity (p. 16).
Importance of Movement in Children’s Learning and Development
Movement is important in early childhood development because it enables a child to learn
through trial and error by connecting concepts to actions. Research has shown that memory and
movement are linked. Therefore, movement is important in developing a child’s cognitive
abilities. Movement in early childhood development also helps in the development of better
social and motor skills (School Specialty, 2018). Children learn how to interact with adults and
this makes them socially active. Additionally, children imitate the movement of their parents and
educators by moving around thus improving their motor skills. These are important skills that the
child develops with; throughout their lives and they must be taught at an early age.
According to Horton et al. (2014), walking and movement allow a child to develop sufficient
knowledge regarding their environment (p. 107). It is thus important to note that movement helps