Child Development Theories: Cognitive, Social, and Physical Aspects

This report delves into various theories related to child development, emphasizing the significance of a child's neurological and psychological needs for optimal societal growth. It examines cognitive development, exploring theories such as Vygotsky's cultural history theory, Piaget and Gessell's maturation theory, and the influence of speech, language, and communication development, including Skinner's theory of behavior. The report also addresses physical development, highlighting the importance of care and nutrition, and social and emotional development, referencing Vygotsky's socio-cultural theory. The theories discussed influence the development of children and help to meet their neurological and psychological requirements. The report concludes by summarizing the key factors influencing child development and their impact on early childhood education frameworks.

Tutor Marked Project 3

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
3.1 Describe the theories in relation:...........................................................................................1
3.2 Influence of the theories related to child development.........................................................3
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
The development of the children is very important for the better growth of the society.
The efficient development process of the child and meeting their neurological and psychological
requirements that helps the care takers to take the better measures to development of the children
(Cain, 2015). Various theories are been discussed related to the child development and its
interrelation to the current framework is been considered in report.
3.1 Describe the theories in relation:
Cognitive Development: The cognitive development is the process of study of the neurology
and psychology focusing on the development of the individual child in terms of information
processing, conceptual resources and learning skills. Different sort of theories are been
implemented in the assessment of the cognitive development of the children's (Coll, 2015). Some
major theories that are been taken into consideration are:
 Vygotsky's Cultural history theory: The cultural history theory of cognitive
development focuses on the role played by the culture of the individual on the
development of the individual that helps the children to have a better understanding of the
needs of the children. This theory emphasises on the better development of the children
and helps him to meet the requirement of the children (Cristia and et.al., 2017). This
theory states that the adults in the society plays a very deep role in the management of the
cognitive development of the children in the society. The adults will help the kids to grow
mentally, physically and psychologically by engaging them into meaningful activities
like music, dance etc. which helps the kids to grow and develop.
 Piaget and Gessell's Maturation theory: This theory states that the cognitive
development of a child depends on the pattern that is been taken into consideration for
the better development of child. The extent of the development of a child is deeply
dependent on his involvement with the surrounding environment.
Speech, language and communication development: The development of the speech
communication and language is very important for the management of the development of the
children. It helps in the better development of the child and helps him to communicate with
others in order to depict his needs and demands (Crnic and et.al., 2017). Many theories are been
taken into consideration that helps the children's as well as the adults to carry out a better
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development process. The theory that is been taken into this context is the Skinner's theory of
behaviour.
 Skinner's theory of Behaviour: The Skinner theory of the behaviour is deeply based on
the conceptual study of the behaviour and its application in the practical situation. The
process of behaviourism is deeply based on the class room concepts and helps in the
better development of the individual child (Greenfield, 2014). It is very useful in carrying
out the communication processes with the kids and them to identify the issues faced by
them related to speech, language and communication that helps the child to gain a better
development. It includes the various approaches like focusing on the educational
psychology and language learning approach with the response to the verbal stimuli and
change in performance (Hamre and et.al., 2014).
Physical development: The physical development of the child is also very important and crucial
in the development of the child on the physical level. During the growth years, the children's
need special care and nutrition that helps them to gain a better growth. During the physical
growth, the children's not only abler to control their bodies in a better way but are able to
perform certain tasks without the help and guidance of the adults (Kiang, Tseng and Yip, 2016).
Their gross motor skills, responses time to stimuli and reaction ability increases in a significant
and suitable manner. They are able to read and write and communicate with others on their own.
Besides this, they get more used to the physical activities like running, playing football etc. The
growth of the brain makes them unable to learn and know more and more about their
environment. Their hand to eye coordination increases and they are able to perform the complex
tasks. Apart from this, their reflexes and strength increases and the synchronisation of the actions
increases with the regular physical activities (Moore, 2017).
The Gessell theory is also applicable in the physical development of the children's.
According to the theory, the physical development of the children is very much dependent on
their physical and mental age and helps the firm or the care takers to keep a regular check on the
better and sequential growth of the child. Besides this, he also states that the physical
development of a child is deeply dependent on various internal and the external factors such as
environment, family background, parenting, cultural influence and health conditions. The
developmental age may be different from the chronological age of the child.
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Social and emotional development: Along with the physical development needs, the social and
the emotional needs and demands of the child also increases and are meant to be fulfilled by the
parents or the caretakers. The Vygotsky's socio cultural theory helps the caretakers and the
parents of the children to take in the suitable measures that helps the company to gain a better
idea about the social and emotional needs and demands of the kids that will help them to meet
their development requirements (Hamre and et.al., 2014). According to the social emotional care
theory by Vygotsky, the social and emotional development of the kids or the children's can be
carried out using the imaginary situations that helps them to interact with each other, building a
social and emotional bond.
3.2 Influence of the theories related to child development.
The theories that are been discussed above are to be discussed in a better way to meet the
requirements of the development of the child that is been taken into the consideration by the
various frameworks that are been in the practice for the child development will have the
following impact:
 The cognitive development approach will help the parents or the care takers of the
children to meet the neurological or psychological requirements of the people (Kiang,
Tseng and Yip, 2016). This theory will help us to adopt various sort of developmental
measures that can be implemented for the better and sustainable development of the
children. This will help in improving the neurological health of the children's.
 The approach of the speech, language and communication development will help the
children to make out the communication with others and convey their needs on their
own.
 Physical development will help to fulfil the physical requirements of the growing
children's by the parents or caretakers (Coll, 2015).
 Social and emotional development will help the company to meet the social
requirements of the children for their better development.
The various types of theories that have been taken into consideration for the development
purpose is deeply related to the various theories that are been discussed above. Some major
effects of EYFS explained by the theorist are follows:
 The Vygotsky's Cultural history theory and Piaget and Gessell's Maturation theory will
help us to gain a better idea of the cognitive development that will be carried out for the
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child and helps in better development at the early years of a child. This will help the
theorist to manage the operations in the EYFS of the child. That will lead to the better
development of the children's and help them in easy learning and growth. According to
the theorists, the theory states that the development of the child is deeply based on the
internal and the external environmental factor of the individual and are needed to be
taken into notice for the better growth of the child.
 The Skinner's theory helps the company to gain a better idea of the influence of the
behaviour that is been taken into consideration for understanding the better speech and
communication development of the child in his early ages. This will help the theorist to
identify any sort of issue related to the speaking or communication with and from the
child at EYFS and rectify or manage it in a very significant manner. The theorist states
that the change in behaviour should be taken in consideration for the good health and
social development long with the communication with the care taker of an individual
child.
 The physical and the socio emotional factors that are been discussed helps the us to gain
an idea of the various factors that are been taken into the consideration for the better and
sustainable growth of a child in his early years foundation stage. At EYFS of the child,
these factors help the caretakers and the to theorist to manage the various sort of the
operations in a better way. It will lead to a growth of the children's at the care home. The
theorists state that this physical and socio emotional factors have a deep impact on the
growth of the company and fulfil the various physical, mental, social and emotional
requirements of the child for its better development.
CONCLUSION
Thus, we can conclude that children development is based on various factors. The
efficient development process of the child and meeting their neurological and psychological
requirements that helps the care takers to take the better measures to development of the
children. Along with this, the cognitive, speech, physical and social development id been taken
in consideration.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Cain, K., 2015. The dimensionality of language ability in young children. Child
Development. 86(6). pp.1948-1965.
Coll, C.G., 2015. Continuity and change in child development. Child development. 86(1). pp.7-9.
Cristia, J. and et.al., 2017. Technology and child development: Evidence from the one laptop per
child program. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics. 9(3). pp.295-320.
Crnic, K.A. and et.al., 2017. Intellectual Disability and Developmental Risk: Promoting
Intervention to Improve Child and Family Well‐Being. Child Development. 88(2).
pp.436-445.
Greenfield, P.M., 2014. Cross-cultural roots of minority child development. Psychology Press.
Hamre, B., and et.al., 2014. Evidence for general and domain‐specific elements of teacher–child
interactions: Associations with preschool children's development. Child
development. 85(3). pp.1257-1274.
Kiang, L., Tseng, V. and Yip, T., 2016. Placing Asian American child development within
historical context. Child development. 87(4). pp.995-1013.
Moore, R.C., 2017. Childhood's domain: Play and place in child development (Vol. 6).
Routledge.
Romens, S.E., and et.al., 2015. Associations between early life stress and gene methylation in
children. Child development. 86(1). pp.303-309.
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