Child Development: Theories and Philosophical Approaches Report

This report provides a comprehensive overview of various theories and philosophical approaches to child development. It begins by examining key theories such as cognitive theory (Piaget), psychosocial theory (Freud), humanist theory, developmental theory, social learning theory (Bandura), operant conditioning (Skinner), behaviorist theory (Watson), and approaches like Maria Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf education, natural play theory, the Vygotskian approach, Erik Erickson, classical conditioning, ecological systems theory, Gardner's theory of multiple intelligence, and information processing approach. The report then analyzes the impact of these theories on practical applications, including the use of mind maps to illustrate the relationships between different theories and their influence on children's learning and development. The analysis emphasizes the importance of considering the specific characteristics of each theory when implementing them in practice, highlighting the need for careful monitoring and adaptation to ensure positive outcomes for children. The report concludes by underscoring the significance of these theories in fostering effective learning and development, with a particular emphasis on the natural play theory.

Understanding theories and
philosophical approaches to
child development

TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. Effect theories and philosophical approaches...................................................................1
B. Impact of theories and philosophical approaches on practice...........................................4
1. Mind Map...........................................................................................................................4
2. Analysis of mind map.........................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

A. Effect theories and philosophical approaches
There are various effect and philosophical approaches that can help in an effective
children learning and development. These are discussed as under :
Cognitive theory (Piaget theory)
Cognitive theory is considered as a theory of development that helps in making and
focusing on growth for various intelligence factors (Hwang, 2015). It involves various ways such
as a complete network of processing and dealing with the information that can be initially guided
to the children so that further it can help in as better and efficient development of the child. Also,
it can be further classified in two types such as social cognitive theory and cognitive behavioural
theory. Cognitive theory deals with various stages that can be included in order to make an
effective and appropriate children development. These stages include pre operational phases
along with concrete and formal operations. So, if both of these can be considered properly, it can
actually help in a strong development of the child which further makes the child capable enough
of having a better understanding of the factors and in analysing as well. The whole procedure of
interpretation and processing of the information and data can be focused in this theory on a
higher basis. Three variables that are given the huge importance in cognitive theory involves the
behavioural factors along with all the intrinsic and extrinsic factors (Clarke, 2015). The intrinsic
factors involve all the personal factors of a person such as biological etc. Thus, the cognitive
theory can help the children learning and development process by including various ways such as
observational learning, self efficacy, reproduction etc.
Psychosocial theory (Freud theory)
Psychosocial theory is considered as a theory which consists of eight stages on an overall
basis. The forte of every stage is to promote healthy development of children, no matter the age
of the person is. It supports the lifelong development of infants as well as of adults. Different
stages of this approach involves trust, industry, intimacy, guilt, ego, generative etc. So, by
considering all these factors, it can be analysed that the development of the child can be done
properly and in an effective manner. Whether it is about infants or children more than 1 or 2
years above, Psychological theory helps in development of each phase of the children. A special
feature of this theory is that it is not limited to any specific age, rather it provides development to
infants as well as elders. In this theory, different virtues have been provided to the people as per
their age groups. These virtues include purpose, will, hope, love, care etc. It has been done
1

because for every person of different age group, different ways can be applied to make them
understand (Green and Piel, 2015). It is not necessary that if someone understands any fact by
wisdom, then the other person may also get it by wisdom only. So, in that case, there might be a
possibility that the other person can understand it by love. Therefore, it is very important to
follow these virtues and make a check whether what can actually prove beneficial for the child in
an efficient learning and development.
Humanist Theory
Humanist theory is classified as a psychological perspective that helps the people in
gaining a sort of belief that people are good and if one tries to treat them in an appropriate way,
there is a possibility that they can reply back in a positive manner. Thus, it can help in a better
learning and development process of the child.
Developmental theory
Developmental theory is specially classified in terms of providing efficient learning and
development to the children because it involves differences in various behaviours. So, the child
can get over all such differences so that it can help the child in getting aware of different
situations and behaviours of people to deal with an appropriate way.
Social learning theory (Bandura theory)
Social learning theory is considered as a theory which focuses on the fact that one learns
from another. It can by any means such as imitation, or by observing their skills, abilities etc.
Operant conditioning (Skinner theory)
Skinner theory considers the fact that the behaviour and attitude of the people are
somehow dependent on the consequences, means what is going in their life. It is obvious that the
situations have a reflection on the living of the person.
Behaviourist theory (Watson theory)
Behaviourist theory is also considered as a learning theory that has its focus on observing
attitudes and behaviourist. Also, the surrounding environment can also affect much on the child's
learning and development.
Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori method is also a very well known way of promoting learning and
development in children. Actually, it is a child centred approach only that gives value to the
physical, social as well as mental development of the child.
2

Reggio Emilia Approach
Reggio Emilia approach is a theory that focuses on pre school and the primary education
of the child that helps in their learning and development. It makes use of the self directed and
experimental learning that helps in making the development process better.
Waldorf education theory
It is also known as Steiner education. It has its emphasis on the imagination of learning. It
involves the factor of integrating holistically all the development of the child whether it is
practical or intellectual.
Natural play theory
The actual focus of this theory is the ideas and the making of those ideas. It can be
through various life experiences as it can include either eating, playing etc.
The Vygotskian approach
It is considered as a very popular theory which can be further classified in three parts.
These parts involve interaction, gaining understanding from other, proximal development etc.
Erik Erickson
Erik Erickson is also considered as a psychological development theory that seems an
appropriate one in the learning and development of the child.
Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning is considered as a form of learning . It also involves two forms,
operant as well as classical conditioning and both can prove effective enough in providing
learning and development to the children.
Ecological systems theory
Ecological system's theory refers to the development but in considers a fact that the
overall development gets quite affected by the surrounding environment of the child. So, it
should be maintained properly.
Gardner's theory of multiple intelligence
It involves various factors that can help in learning and development of child such as
verbal linguistic factors, mathematical intelligence etc.
Information processing approach
3

The information processing approach deals with the aim of understanding the thinking of
people, so that further factors can be considered while the learning and development of the
children.
B. Impact of theories and philosophical approaches on practice
1. Mind Map
4

A mind map is considered as a representation of different factors that are being involved
for some purpose, such as for children learning and development process. It helps in represneting
the relationship between various factors as in the above diagram, different theories have been
linked that helps in children learning and development. When cognitive, psychological, humanist
and the development theories are being applied to the children, it can actually result in effective
results as in appropriate development and learning. Every theory has its influence on the children
learning and development process. Natural play theory can be considered as one of the most
efficient ones because it involves natural ways that can be implemented in the process.
2. Analysis of mind map
As there are various theories that are actually beneficial in providing efficient learning
and development for children. These can actually have an influence when they are being
implemented. When in practice, cognitive theory can be implemented, at that time, it is very
important to ensure that the whole processing is being done in an appropriate way so that the
child can get the right amount and quality of the data so that it can have a positive influence only
on the child. It is important to ensure because some poor stuff of data can have a very negative
impact on the mental stability of the child (Munday, 2016). Thus, the processing needs to be
monitored properly. Also, in case of psychological theory, one needs to ensure that what virtue
should be considered because there are different types of people and making them understand
something needs to be in a way that can act capable enough for doing so. Although it supports
development and learning of people of every age group, when implementing on children, one
should make sure to make involvement of a particular and specialised virtue that can act capable
enough for making the child understand and thus can also help in efficient learning and
development. So, in practice, if all these theories can be implemented, it can actually help in the
process of development of the child. So, when cognitive, psychological, humanist and the
development theories are being applied to the children, it can actually result in effective results
as in appropriate development and learning. Every theory has its influence on the children
learning and development process. Natural play theory can be considered as one of the most
efficient ones because it involves natural ways that can be implemented in the process.
5

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Munday, J., 2016. Introducing translation studies: Theories and applications. Routledge.
Hwang, K. K., 2015. Culture‐Inclusive Theories of Self and Social Interaction: The Approach of
Multiple Philosophical Paradigms. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour. 45(1).
pp.40-63.
Green, M. G. and Piel, J. A., 2015. Theories of human development: A comparative approach.
Psychology Press.
Clarke, S., 2015. 11 Racism: psychoanalytic and psychosocial approaches. Theories of Race and
Ethnicity. p.198.
6