Why is it Important for Early Childhood Educators to draw upon a range of Theoretical Perspectives in their Work?

Running head: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Why is it Important for Early Childhood Educators to draw upon a range of Theoretical
Perspectives in their Work?
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1EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Introduction
The theories and concepts as covered in the ‘Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)’
just indicate that the early childhood educators are in continuous search of ways to support a
good development in children in their early ages. Such thoughts constantly ring in their mind as
they endeavor to deliver the best outcomes and to also nurture their career as the childhood
educators (Knaus, 2015). The main aim of this study is to analyze the concepts and theories
covered in EYLF in practical terms. Hence, the analysis inspects a few of the strengths and
weaknesses as well of EYLF.
Discussion
A critical understanding of key concepts and theories related to early childhood education:
Early childhood educators look to be in the constant hunt at their convenience for the
range of theories and concepts to effectively handle the early childhood developments. Educators
tend to prove their existence as worthy to attain a good career. A fruitful outcome is beneficial
also for the educational center (Weldemariam et al., 2017). Therefore, it is evident that theories
and perspectives serve the diverse purposes of children, educators and the institutions.
What is a ‘Theory’: Theory in context to the early childhood education can be called a set
of ideas focussed on one or certain domains of children's learning and development. A theory is
produced from rational and thoughtful forms of generalized and abstract thinking. A theory is
also based on independent and general principles. Hence, someone who works upon the certain
facts and gives also the explanations for such facts is generally considered a theorist. This can
also be said that some theorists come up with their abstract ideas and spend their whole life in
proving them. They do it because ideas can also attract the dispute thoughts until the theorist

2EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
proves their ideas to be the absolute facts. Theories are like the ways of knowing which influence
thinking and also influence the practice in certain ways (Salamon et al., 2016).
Perspective: A perspective can be defined as ways that educators use to react to certain
ideas or theories. Theories produce the set of assumptions about how children at their early ages
should be dealt with at the educational centers. These assumptions influence the ways that
educators think and act. Such assumptions do also impact their beliefs and ideas. The childhood
educators assume a set of things from such assumptions or theories and try to see the world from
their perspectives. They may differ from each other in respect to the different domains of the
early childhood education. To choose a perspective does also mean selecting a value system
which is a set of beliefs and ideas (Smith, Tesar & Myers, 2016).
Impact of theories on practice: Theories play the important roles in the early childhood
education as it influences the perspectives of educators. The educators then get to know the ways
and procedures to follow to support a diverse range of developments in children at their early
ages. Courses are designed in accordance to theories and the diverse practices. The profession to
teach the children at their early ages is underpinned by a number of theories which is related with
several aspects of child development such as language development, social development,
emotional & psychological development, physical & cognitive development, play, independence
and autonomy (Somerville & Williams, 2015). Some of the major theorists from Western
countries are Erikson, Ainsworth, Bowlby, Skinner, Vygotsky, Piaget, Chomsky, Bandura,
Parten, Rogoff, Foucault, Smilansky and Bronfenbrenner. These theorists with their philosophies
guide educators to effectively work with young children, their families and the community which
they belong to. These theorists provide the conceptual understandings on different aspects which
are otherwise difficult to comprehend. Aligning practices with the range of theories require the