Early Childhood Development: Theories, Intelligence, Self-Efficacy, and Language Learning

This article discusses the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky, Gardner's intelligence theory, self-efficacy, self-regulation, and language learning in early childhood development. It explores the importance of these concepts in the classroom, their limitations, and ways to teach English to students and support literacy.

Early Childhood Development

Table of Contents
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................4
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................4
Presenting Piaget Theory.............................................................................................................4
Importance of Piaget theory in classroom...................................................................................4
Piaget theory as guide..................................................................................................................4
Limitation of Piaget theory..........................................................................................................4
Vygotsky's Cognitive Development............................................................................................4
Implication of Vygotsky's theory.................................................................................................5
Example of ZPD..........................................................................................................................5
Limitation of this theory..............................................................................................................5
Difference between Vygotsky and Piaget....................................................................................5
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................5
Intelligence meaning....................................................................................................................5
Areas of Gardner intelligence theory...........................................................................................5
Criticism of the theory.................................................................................................................5
Area of Intelligence.....................................................................................................................6
Gardner’s theory foster learning..................................................................................................6
Lo 3..................................................................................................................................................6
Self-efficiency..............................................................................................................................6
Difference between self-efficacy and self esteem.......................................................................6
Sources of self-efficacy...............................................................................................................6
Increasing self-sufficiency in students.........................................................................................7
Meaning of self-regulation and self-regulate learning.................................................................7
Reflection.....................................................................................................................................7
Nurture Self-esteem, regulation and efficacy..............................................................................7
 Self-efficacy through Mastery Experiences, Set SMART goals, Reframe obstacles.
LO 4.................................................................................................................................................7
Nativist theory.............................................................................................................................7

Example for supporting literacy..................................................................................................8
Bilingualism.................................................................................................................................8
Ways to teach English to students...............................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

MAIN BODY
LO 1
Presenting Piaget Theory
Jean Piaget has introduced the theory of development and it suggest that children move through
four different stages of learning. It focusses not only on understanding way children gather
knowledge but also knowing the nature of intelligence (Karasik and Robinson, 2022). The
schema theory of Piaget suggests both the category of knowledge as well as process of collecting
information. It states that people are adapting with the change in the environment as it learns new
things. Moreover, assimilation means to keeping the knowledge and identifying new place to
store information. Whereas accommodation means to involve actual changing the knowledge of
a topic.
Importance of Piaget theory in classroom
This theory impact on the classroom is positive as it allows teacher to adapt according to
learner development level. Thus, it allows in building healthy relation between student and
teacher as well as to identify their strength and weakness (Nahar and et.al., 2020). Although it
considers children to be little scientist as it explores the environment to gain understanding and it
believe that children do this naturally without support of adult.
Piaget theory as guide
This theory is based on student development and it helped in building the experience with
young adult as it allows teacher to find out ways to connect with students. Moreover, some of the
learning activity Piaget is to open store as it will allow students to learn about how to operate
business as well as writing newspaper as it will contribute in enhancing their knowledge.
Limitation of Piaget theory
It has some short coming and it include overestimating the ability of young adults and
underestimating infants learning capacity. Another limitation is that theory neglects cultural and
social interaction while developing children thinking ability.
Vygotsky's Cognitive Development
This theory states that culture factor plays important role in developing and formation of
particular abilities likes learning, attention, memory and problem solving (Subissi and et.al.,
2018). It present that learning is crucial process of society in which support of parents, teacher,

caregiver and culture play significant role in development of learner. The ZPD according to
Vygotsky's stands for Zone of Proximal development that define space between what learner can
do independently and what it can do with adult guidance.
Implication of Vygotsky's theory
It helps in improving student’s ability to learn new things and in this method teacher and learner
can collaborate with them and practicing key skills like summarizing, questioning, clarifying and
predicting (McCoy and et.al., 2018). Along with this, individual learn best when working
together with others.
Example of ZPD
A teacher can guide a child through the step by step so that leaner can master things easily. For
example: If teacher wants to teach students subtraction then it need to make them learn through
step by step so that concept of learners is clear.
Limitation of this theory
The limitation is that it focuses on the interaction of people and their culture and it do not focus
on other factors such as genetics. It lacks a clear definition of social interaction and it does not
account for individual differences.
Difference between Vygotsky and Piaget
It stated that Vygotsky that children little apprentice as they learn and develop ability through
culture and by guidance of adult (Gao and et.al., 2021). Whereas in case of Piaget it states that
children learn though change happens in external environment.
LO 2
Intelligence meaning
It is the ability of an individual to learn new things through many ways like capacity for
abstraction, logic, emotional knowledge and creativity.
Areas of Gardner intelligence theory
Linguistic, Logical/Mathematical, Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal,
Intrapersonal, and Naturalist.
Criticism of the theory
Many critics argue that Gardner’s definition of intelligence is too broad and its eight factor
simply represent talents, personality traits and abilities. The eight area also believes that
cognitive style rather than standalone construct.

Area of Intelligence
My linguistic area is very good as I am aware about some local language and I am always eager
to learn new language (McCoy and et.al., 2018). Although my logical and mathematical area is
very weak as my concept are not clear as well as I have less interest in that.
Gardner’s theory foster learning
It is connected with multisensory learning that allow teacher to learn things and make them
involve in activities. It engages student’s visual, tactile, auditory and other senses.
Lo 3
Self-efficiency
Bandura theory has defined self-efficiency as one’s ability to succeed in particular situation by
accomplishing the task. It is very important and play major role in achieving goals and dealing
the challenges.
Difference between self-efficacy and self esteem
Self-esteem is conceptualize feeling of one’s worth or value and it focus on being as well as self-
efficacy is based on doing that means feeling that helps in dealing with challenges. Although
high self-worth is example of self-efficacy and it contribute to one’s sense of overall value. In
simple word self-efficiency means how a person feel about its skill and make use of them in
different situation and function (Gao and et.al., 2021). Whereas, self-esteem is realistic respect
of skills and knowledge to achieve and deal with challenges. Moreover, self-concept is defining
as individual beliefs and evaluation as well as one beliefs about attributes likes strength and
weakness. My strength that I have good self confidence that helps in building self-efficiency.
Sources of self-efficacy
4 sources of self-efficacy are performance accomplishments, Vicarious experience, social
Persuasion, Physiology and emotional states. The performance accomplishment is information
based on individual accomplishments as well as record of success and failures (Yoshikawa and
et.al., 2020). Along with this, vicarious experience is gained by observing other activities
successfully and it often referred to as modelling that can improve their performance by
learning. Although social persuasion are activities in which one person do task through
suggestion and coaching. Therese in case of physiological and emotional states influence self-
efficacy judgment related to task and emotional reaction can lead to negative judgement for
completing the tasks.

Increasing self-sufficiency in students
There are four sources of self-efficacy and teacher can make use strategies to build that such as
mastering experience as success helps in boosting self-efficacy whereas failure erode it (Cuartas,
2021). Although establishing long and short goals will help the students in dealing with
challenges as well as making use of specific learning strategy and verbalize their plan this will
contribute in knowing their progress.
Meaning of self-regulation and self-regulate learning
Self-regulate learning means an ability to understand and control learning environment as well as
self-regulation include goal setting, monitoring and reinforcement (Madondo, 2021). The self-
regulation allows individual to monitor as well as control how to interact with environment on
other hand self-regulate learning is cyclical process wherein the students plans for task, monitor
their performance and reflects on the outcome. Thus, it helps in adjusting and preparing for the
task.
Reflection
I make use of my time management skill that allows in dividing the amount of time required
for the task. Along with this, I make plan for the ways I can achieve my goals.
Nurture Self-esteem, regulation and efficacy
 Self-efficacy through Mastery Experiences, Set SMART goals, Reframe obstacles.
 Self-regulation: Awareness of body sensations; Meditation and prayer, Self-expression:
art, music, dance, writing, etc.
 Self-esteem: Use positive affirmations correctly, eliminate self-criticism and introduce
self-compassion, Affirm your real worth.

LO 4
Nativist theory
This suggest that language learning is born ability that allow children to learn language easily.
Along with this, theory state that there is particular area of brain that dedicate learning a
language and children ability to understand basic grammar without any formal teaching.
Example for supporting literacy
Activities like talking, signing, reading and storytelling as well as writing helps in developing
child literacy. Along with this, for teaching infant’s nursery rhymes, sound games as it helps in
grasping things quickly.
Bilingualism
This refer to person who can speak both different type of language. An example of bilingual is
when person speaks English and Spanish or any other local or international language (de Oliveira
and et.al., 2020). Along with this, bilingualism strengths cognitive abilities and it helps in
enhancing creativity skill as well as being flexible. Such people also find it easier to focus on
various task side by side and helps in building good communication skill.
Ways to teach English to students
In order make the learners learn new language it can make use of lot of visual as images are best
ways to support learning and make them understand things easily as well as keep it simple so
that learners can develop their knowledge. The teacher can make use of fun activity as it will
keep the student engaged with the task as well as activity like role play can be used as it will
improve speaking ability and confidence of student (Dankiw and et.al., 2020). Although by
segregating role to the students it will be able to develop and practice their different vocabulary
in fun ways. Thus, it will contribute in building communication skill of students.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Dankiw, K.A. and et.al., 2020. The impacts of unstructured nature play on health in early
childhood development: A systematic review. Plos one. 15(2). p.e0229006.
de Oliveira, K. H. D. and et.al., 2020. Household food insecurity and early childhood
development: Systematic review and meta‐analysis. Maternal & child nutrition, 16(3),
p.e12967.
Yoshikawa, H. and et.al., 2020. Effects of the global coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic on
early childhood development: short-and long-term risks and mitigating program and policy
actions. The Journal of paediatrics. 223. pp.188-193.
Gao, Y. and et.al., 2021. Housing environment and early childhood development in sub-
Saharan Africa: A cross-sectional analysis. PLoS medicine. 18(4). p.e1003578.
McCoy, D. C. and et.al., 2018. Measuring early childhood development at a global scale:
evidence from the Caregiver-Reported early development instruments. Early childhood
research quarterly. 45. pp.58-68.
McCoy, D. C. and et.al., 2018. Measuring early childhood development at a global scale:
evidence from the Caregiver-Reported early development instruments. Early childhood
research quarterly. 45. pp.58-68.
Subissi, L. and et.al., 2018. Zika virus infection during pregnancy and effects on early
childhood development, French Polynesia, 2013–2016. Emerging infectious diseases. 24(10).
p.1850.
Nahar, B. and et.al., 2020. Early childhood development and stunting: Findings from the
MAL‐ED birth cohort study in Bangladesh. Maternal & child nutrition. 16(1). p.e12864.
Karasik, L. B. and Robinson, S .R., 2022. Milestones or millstones: How standard
assessments mask cultural variation and misinform policies aimed at early childhood
development. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences. 9(1). pp.57-64.
Madondo, F., 2021. Perceptions on curriculum implementation: A Case for rural
Zimbabwean early childhood development teachers as agents of change. Journal of Research
in Childhood Education. 35(3). pp.399-416.
Cuartas, J., 2021. Corporal punishment and early childhood development in 49 low-and
middle-income countries. Child Abuse & Neglect. 120. p.105205.
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Online references
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