Child Pedagogy: Theory and Practice: An In-depth Essay

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of child pedagogy, focusing on the application of teaching methods, particularly for children aged 3 to 12 years. It explores the significance of pedagogical approaches in shaping children's psychological development and highlights the influence of d...Read More

Running head: CHILD PEDAGOGY: THEORY AND PRACTICE
Child Pedagogy: Theory and Practice
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1Child Pedagogy: Theory and Practice
Introduction:
Concept:
Pedagogy is regarded as a teaching method, applied essentially for the children. The children
aged between 3 to 12 years, should be approached with the Pedagogical teaching method. It
includes the theoretical models of teaching and the further refers to the application of those
teaching methods into practice, and it is essentially influenced by the psychological
development models of the children. The pedagogical modes of teaching include the key
factors of the psychological development model for the children. The psychological
development of a child is the most important aspects for including a teaching method, as the
development model of each children differs than the other. The pedagogical model can also
be regarded as an academic discourse, which then will include the educational contexts of the
teaching processes and the teaching and learning methods and the skills and knowledge that
can be imparted through this practice (Hegarty, 2015). However, the pedagogical approaches
vary across nations and educational institutions, and the practical approaches of pedagogy
include the learning and the teaching methods, and these methods include the abilities of the
students as well as the methods applied by the teachers.
Objectives of the Essay:
The Pedagogical method of teaching aims to decide and discuss the everyday plan for the
learning sessions. This daily activity for the students are planned considering the capabilities
of the students. The learning activities and the learning sessions are planned in a way, so that,
it provides the students top develop independent and critical thinking skill. The Pedagogical
teaching methods also include the challenges that can occur with the digitization of the
educational processes, and aims to provide the competent understanding of the usage of the
technological tools, and with the smart class rooms, the use of the technical tools within the

2Child Pedagogy: Theory and Practice
class room has been made mandatory (Youngman, 2018). The pedagogical method also aims
towards the self- evaluation of the teaching skills of the teachers. This evaluation process
includes the teaching methods, making use of the technology within the class room,
management of time, to finish with a learning session. The pedagogical method also aims to
identify the challenging situations that may posit while conducting a learning session.
Guiding Structure:
The Pedagogical practice is guided by six principles or bases.
 The teachers must try to include the children within the teaching and learning
methods and therefore, motivate them to take part.
 The teachers must develop lesson plans, and plan for the daily activities that will
support the development of the children.
 The teachers must also plan to increase the academic challenges for the students
which can act as a motivational factor for the students.
 The teachers must also make sure that the children are involved into practical
conducts and they must be provided with proper socialization factors.
 The teachers must also involve the students into communicational structures and
interaction patterns, as that will help the students to develop communication skills and
will also increase the imaginative skills of the students.
 The most important guiding principle of the approach is that the lesson plan should be
made according to capability of the students, and they must have a diversified
approach, given the class room situation, and also the teachers must try to understand
the requirements of the children (Luke, 2018).

3Child Pedagogy: Theory and Practice
Diversified Modes:
The pedagogical modes of teaching is characterised by five modes of practices or includes
five approaches.
Integrative Approach: The integrative approach, as the name suggests, includes an
integration of all the discourses. That is, a link among all the discourses is maintained. This is
essential, because as the children are studying many discourses, together, therefore, it will
provide them a holistic understanding and will increase their critical understanding skill
(Luke, 2018).
Constructivist Approach: The constructivist approach, again, as the name suggests depend
upon the construction of the learning methods and the construction of the classroom that will
rightly contribute in the construction of the understanding of the students (Luke, 2018). This
approach essentially focuses on the diversity and creativity among the students.
Reflective Approach: Reflective approach essentially applies for the teachers. In this process,
the teachers and the educational instructors are to focus on their methods and skills that they
apply for providing the students with the learning sessions. They are to reflect on their own
skills and performances in order to come up with better ideas and approaches.
Inquiry Based Approach: The Inquiry Based Approach refers to involving an inquiry into the
whole learning and teaching method. This involves asking questions and including an
investigation plan accordingly, which can help in the improvement of understanding and the
retaining capability of the students (del Carmen, 2013). This approach also increase
understanding among the children.
Collaborative Approach: The term collaboration means combination. Therefore, as the name
suggests, the collaborative approach refers to the combination of all the approaches of the

4Child Pedagogy: Theory and Practice
teaching methods together. Therefore, the collaborative approach includes an associative or
group work approach into the teaching methods (del Carmen, 2013). The aim is to develop
among the students the habit of working in a group together, and helping each other. It
develops patience, empathy, and initiates a listening skill and habit among the children.
Theories of Pedagogy:
The pedagogical approaches are guided by and are outlined by certain developmental or
pedagogical theories, from which the basic connotations and the basic principles of the
pedagogical practices are developed. One of the most important theories of Pedagogy is the
developmental theory provided by the Piaget. The theory is known as the cognitive
development theory, which marks the developmental stages of the children, and therefore,
helps in developing educational plans. Another theory is, the Proximal Development theory
of Lev Vygotsky. This refer to the children as a social being, therefore, provide importance to
the development of a child as a social being. Another important theory was provided by
Kohlberg (Darder, 2017). This is the theory of Moral development of the children, and this
theory refers to the psychological development of the children, and focuses on the
requirement of the development of the moral sense among the children.
Early Years Learning Framework Principles:
The National Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) refers to the five basic principles that
are important in order to include a Pedagogy Plan. The five principles of EYLF program
includes,
 Reciprocal, respectful and secure relations among the children which will guide
cooperation and respect.
 Involving the sense of a team among the students and ensure the development of a
group behaviour among them.

5Child Pedagogy: Theory and Practice
 Promoting the belief of equity that is, believing that all the children have equal
capability, but with different approaches.
 Respecting the diversity within the class room, and therefore, including a sense of
diversity among the children.
 The understanding that the learning process is a lengthy and elongated and
continuous. There is no ending of the learning process (Knight, 2013).
The EYLF principles are used as guiding principles for the children, however, it can be
applied for the whole of the educational process. The aim of the EYLF process is to enrich
the learning abilities and the cultural, social and moral sense of the children. The EYLF
principle includes all the aspects of development of the children. It also aims to better the
communication skill of the students. The principles stem from the rule of 3Bs- Being, that is,
the children to be considered, Belonging, that is, the family and the culture of the considered
student and lastly, Becoming, that is, the personality change of the considered student
through gaining experiences (Sturtevant et al., 2016).
Position of the Teacher:
The role of the teacher is important in the whole educational programs. The teachers holds
the most important role in the educational system, provided to a child. He or she is seen as the
supporting component for the development of the children, as it is the through the educators
only, that the children can gain the perspectives of development (Fleer, 2015). Also, it is the
role of the teacher, to plan for a learning session for the students.
International Scaffolding:
International Scaffolding is regarded as a tool for the pedagogical teaching method.
International Scaffolding is essentially used as a tool in case of the constructivist approach.
The tool includes observations, of the classroom, observations of the interactional processes

6Child Pedagogy: Theory and Practice
involved in the classroom, and also includes the reflection upon the interactional processes
that is involved within the classroom. The International Scaffolding also includes the
interviews and behavioural approaches of the children that can be perceived within the
classroom. In this notion, it is important to mention that the two of the major challenges that
can be observed within the classroom parameter are depression and anxiety among the
children. Both of them causes out of the interactional processes that the children involve into
(Belland, 2014). They lack a sense of belonging to the classroom culture, or feel that they are
less capable to get involved in the communication process, which contributes in anxiety and
further depression.
Participation of the Children:
The basic notion or requirement of the pedagogical approach is the involvement of the
students into the classroom conducts and in the learning sessions. The inclusion of the
children can be ensured only through proper teaching methods and therefore, the pedagogical
approach is included in order to involve all the children in the activities (Venninen et al.,
2014).

7Child Pedagogy: Theory and Practice
References:
Belland, B. R. (2014). Scaffolding: Definition, current debates, and future directions.
In Handbook of research on educational communications and technology (pp. 505-
518). Springer, New York, NY.
Darder, A. (2017). Reinventing Paulo Freire: A pedagogy of love. Routledge.
del Carmen Salazar, M. (2013). A humanizing pedagogy: Reinventing the principles and
practice of education as a journey toward liberation. Review of Research in
Education, 37(1), 121-148.
Fleer, M. (2015). Pedagogical positioning in play–teachers being inside and outside of
children's imaginary play. Early Child Development and Care, 185(11-12), 1801-
1814.
Hegarty, B. (2015). Attributes of open pedagogy: A model for using open educational
resources. Educational Technology, 3-13.
Luke, A. (2018). Pedagogy as gift. In Critical Literacy, Schooling, and Social Justice (pp.
272-296). Routledge.
Sturtevant, E. G., Boyd, F. B., Brozo, W. G., Hinchman, K. A., Moore, D. W., & Alvermann,
D. E. (2016). Principled practices for adolescent literacy: A framework for
instruction and policy. Routledge.
Venninen, T., Leinonen, J., Lipponen, L., & Ojala, M. (2014). Supporting children’s
participation in Finnish child care centers. Early Childhood Education Journal, 42(3),
211-218.

8Child Pedagogy: Theory and Practice
Youngman, F. (2018). Adult education and socialist pedagogy. Routledge.