MTPS500 Essay: Theories of Development and Learning in Early Childhood

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of early childhood development, focusing on the period from birth to six or seven years old. It examines the four key developmental domains: physical, cognitive, social, and emotional, outlining milestones and characteristics within each. The essay defines early childhood and explores how theorists like Piaget and Erikson have shaped our understanding of this crucial stage. It then delves into the specifics of each domain, offering examples and discussing the implications of these milestones for learning. The discussion includes pedagogical strategies that support development, such as promoting physical activities, encouraging cognitive skills through playful activities, fostering social interaction, and nurturing emotional understanding. The essay emphasizes the importance of providing a safe and nurturing environment to promote a child’s holistic growth and development. Research-based evidence and citations support the arguments presented, making this a valuable resource for understanding early childhood education.

Running head: THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING
THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Discussion..................................................................................................................................3
1. Definition of Early Childhood Stage:.............................................................................3
2. Four Domains:.................................................................................................................4
2.1. Physical development:.............................................................................................4
2.2. Cognitive development:...........................................................................................5
2.3. Social development:.................................................................................................6
2.4. Emotional development:..........................................................................................7
3. Learning strategies and practices:...................................................................................8
Conclusion................................................................................................................................10
References................................................................................................................................11

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Introduction
Early childhood has been associated with preschool years in which children begin to
learn, understand, and gather knowledge about the basic things. Parents and educators move
away from the basic slogans, ideas and beliefs and draw more attention towards
comprehensive awareness (Lobman & Clark, 2015). They mainly focus on the development
of one’s personality. Thus, the primary focus of the report is to establish extensive research
on early childhood as well as gathering the focus on the four domains, including physical,
cognitive, social and emotional. Significant examples will be presented in order to support
teaching as well as learning strategies based on early childhood. The early childhood group is
an essential stage in the development of human beings (Lascarides & Hinitz, 2013). It is
basically associated with toddlerhood.
Physical development is defined as the primary domain through which toddlers and
infants will process their developmental activities and adequate growth in their body
structure. Several characteristics are acquainted with physical development that helps a child
to become more active, and an adventurous side is disclosed. Certain communicative events
benefit children to involve themselves in various physical activities (Babic et al., 2014).
Cognitive development is associated with building up adequate skills that may include
language learning, pre-reading, numeracy, and vocabulary (Kogan, 2013). Social
development is referred to as the process in which a child will learn to communicate with
other people in the same community (Isaacs, 2013). The process will help children to develop
their individual personality and to gain an individuality in the community. They will absorb
certain practical skills in order to interact with other children, along with process their
actions. Emotional development has been associated with experiences such as mood swings,

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tantrums, and a rising social world. Children will gain more knowledge about their emotions,
along with other people’s emotions (Dowling, 2014).
The four domains will be explored in order to understand the basic necessities and
qualities that are required in the developmental process and growth of a child. The primary
objective is to present the accurate milestones of early childhood, which will be emphasized
on developmental milestones, and it will help the readers to stimulate their ideas and thoughts
appropriately.
Discussion
1. Definition of Early Childhood Stage:
In Psychology, the early childhood stage is defined as the time from a child’s birth
until the age of six-to-seven years. The stage covers the period from infancy, then
kindergarten, along with the first standard of their school (Lascarides & Hinitz, 2013).
Several theorists such as Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, Lawrence Kohlberg, and Lev Vygotsky
have introduced various stages of development. They have gathered enough information
about how a child gets a chance to transform himself or herself by utilizing the physical,
cognitive, social, and emotional aspects (Lobman & Clark, 2015). The stages of childhood
have been associated with social institutions, laws, and customs that help in forming society
(Stern, 2017). There are various types of programs that are attached to early childhood
education services such as teacher-led services, playgroups, education and care centers, play-
centers, and kindergartens (Gordon & Browne, 2013).
The stage has been occupied with different kinds of developmental tasks through
playful activities such as building blocks, the ability to join other peer-groups, engaging with
social groups, and the capacity to instigate powerful emotions (Lascarides & Hinitz, 2013).
The discussion can be furthered structured through an example such as most of the

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researchers, along with professionals, have defined the time of early childhood starting from
a child’s birth till the age of eight years (Gordon & Browne, 2013). The program that has
been associated with early childhood stage will include safety and nurturing ambiance and to
promot the social, physical, intellectual, and emotional development of all the children.
2. Four Domains:
2.1. Physical development:
In this stage, physical development is a significant area of child development in which
it will include the physical growth of children, and the rising ability to manage the muscles of
their individual bodies (Gov.wales, 2020). The physical development of a child may show a
significant predictable pattern, but each and every child will develop or grow according to
their own rate. It is quite essential to promote physical activities that will include growth as
well as development (Babic et al., 2014). The approach will benefit the child in order to have
a proper body structure, firm bones, and muscles. The physical development will help to
improve the cardiovascular fitness of a child. Physical activities will benefit the
developmental structure by having better motor skills, along with thinking skills and adequate
concentration.
There are practical and essential effects on physical development in the period of
preschool that may include some changes in the brain of a child, high motor and gross skills,
and health (Babic et al., 2014). Early childhood symbolizes the development that will consist
of psychological, biological, and social changes that are interrelated with this period
(Gov.wales, 2020). The growth of a child’s brain should adopt certain cognitive abilities, and
the structure of development, and will benefit him or her to disclose their individual ideas
appropriately.

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Thus, pedagogical practices will help educators to promote, along with facilitating a
child’s learning processes. Several pieces of research, reflections, and documentation will
benefit the students to shape their pedagogy (Bredekamp, 2014). It may also include some
insignificant challenges while understanding the depth of pedagogy for the educators and the
process of implementation to the early years learning framework. Thus, one of the most
common aspects is the distribution of adequate opportunities among all the children so that
they can explore the process of learning through playful activities. It is necessary to evolve a
child through its best capabilities, talents, and efforts. Children may secure a valuable
connection by constructing adequate development through their individual skills. Children
will learn about themselves and will observe various activities and get in contact with nature
and other physical objects that can be very useful through such learning events (Bredekamp,
2014).
2.2. Cognitive development:
Cognitive development is defined as the structure of thought processes that will
include certain aspects such as problem-solving, decision-making, and remembering
processes from the time a child is born (Kogan, 2013). There are different ways of promoting
cognitive development, such as recognizing noises, practicing alphabets, shapes, and colors,
offering choices, asking questions, and visiting amazing places. Thus, cognitive development
is quite essential for children that are associated with paying adequate attention to the
thinking process in this social world around them. Cognitive development encompasses a
working memory of a child, along with their individual ability of a child in order to manage,
as well as to respond to their personal experiences. The information can be gathered through
their experiences, and thus, it can be processed accordingly (Inhelder, Sinclair & Bovet,
2014). Cognitive development has been associated with learning skills including attention,
thinking, and memory. Genetic makeup is also dependable for cognitive capability, but

6THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING
mostly, these skills can be learned and can be improved by providing appropriate training
(Bjorklund & Causey, 2017).
Some essential benefits are associated with a learning approach that helps the children
to develop their skills and aids them in utilizing their personal abilities more effectively
(Kogan, 2013). The approach will help the children to build the study skills and problem-
solving processes that can be applied to their desired subject (Bjorklund & Causey, 2017).
Thus, the processes will develop their language skills, and cognitive skills, and eventually are
interlinked with one another. Certain features of cognitive development will definitely affect
a child that will help to instigate in their learning processes (Inhelder, Sinclair & Bovet,
2014). Therefore, cognitive skills will also include sustained attention, working memory,
adequate flexibility, attention, and effective control measures.
The pedagogical approaches of cognitive development will include a successful
growth for children by adapting early childhood programs (Inhelder, Sinclair & Bovet, 2014).
It does not focus on the behavior and abilities of a child, but it also observes the prior
knowledge of a child. One of the effective ways of actively supporting a child is through
pretend playing and thinking. It will benefit the educator as well as the family members to
engage the children in playful yet learning activities. Moreover, the approach may process
improvement in social flavor and building up cognitive skills (Kogan, 2013).
2.3. Social development:
Social development is defined as the process in which a child will learn to
communicate with other individuals in their social community. Thus, it will help to enhance
and absorb their individuality in society and will also benefit from obtaining effective skills
to interact with other individuals. In this way, children will help to process their individual
actions (Isaacs, 2013). Thus, social development will help them to promote social

7THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING
development to a child where certain features are associated with loving, encouraging,
providing opportunities, establishing feelings, developing daily routines, and rectifying a
child’s feelings. For example, specific skills such as doing summersaults so that a child never
gets teased or sitting with their friends to learn a story (Meece, 2010). In this way, it will
involve an ability to develop one’s feelings, along with impulses that are required to grow
and learn so social development can be recognized appropriately.
Thus, the approach will include the improvement and well-being of a child in a
community so that they can obtain their whole potential. Social development is recognized
through the success of a community, and it is interrelated with the well-being of each and
every child. Therefore, it will benefit the families and the overall society and will take care of
their well-being (Whitebread et al., 2011). Certain activities are linked with social
development, such as structured play and preschooler activities. These are some playful
activities that help the children to gain adequate skills and teach them to share and other skills
as well. Therefore, children who can adapt social skills adequately will help them to discover
new individuals and to develop new relationships, signified as a positive impact on their well-
being (Meins, 2013).
Pedagogical strategies and social development have been associated with effective
strategies where educators and children should maintain and improve their relationships. It
will help them to gain a positive mood, following directions, giving instructions, close
relationships with peer groups, same interests, managing emotions, and understanding
preferences (Bourn, 2014). Educators can promote social development through building
relationships, showing affection, respecting all the children, teaching social skills, planning
events, coaching students, generating praises, and modeling behavior. Thus, they need to
follow an adequate strategy like educators need to promote social health by enhancing

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relationships by expressing affection, caring, and respect (Bourn, 2014). In this way, children
will gather more confidence in utilizing their skills for various purposes.
2.4. Emotional development:
Emotional development has been recognized among children, and it will help them to
understand and experience temper tantrums, significant mood swings, and an increasingly
social world (Schore, 2015). In this way, they will be able to learn about their individual
emotions and even the emotions of others as well. Thus, emotional development is a
significant part in the growth of a child, and will help to encourage empathy within the
children (Winnicott, 2018). This kind of development will aid them to understand as well as
to manage their personal feelings, along with emotions. Self-identity, as well as self-esteem,
are the key factors in emotional development. Thus, these emotions may also include positive
as well as negative aspects and it is entirely affected by family members, peer groups and
siblings (Emde, 2014).
Therefore, it is essential to promote social development in a child by loving the child,
positively encouraging them, giving adequate opportunities, showing feelings, and enhancing
daily routines (Emde, 2014). In this early childhood stage, emotions are quite frequent, and
they tend to express some similar emotional expressions such as joy, anger, fear and so on
(Schore, 2015). There are crucial factors that influence a child such as mental illness, parental
abuse, family violence, and poverty. Certain risk factors can be identified in a child including
fussy temperament, critical health problems, and developmental decay (Yoder, 2014).
There are some critical strategies and studies that help in identifying that if a child has
been supported through their emotional skills, can successfully attain higher marks in their
respective schools, if they can control and manage their emotions appropriately. Individuals
who do not receive adequate support will never earn enough scores in their learning activities

9THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING
(Schore, 2015). Teaching strategies are associated with empowering as well as inspiring the
educators of the early childhood stage, and they intend to teach, along with care to all those
young children (Winnicott, 2018). Educators
3. Learning strategies and practices:
Educators and learners should follow six stages in the early childhood stage, such as
Integrated Technology, Cooperative Learning Structure, Differentiated Instruction, Goal-
oriented Setting, Cross-Curriculum, and Assessment for learning (Whitebread et al., 2011).
However, children and educators will help to develop their skills and abilities. Educators
need to understand the children and should inspire them so that they can gain practical
knowledge and other adequate skills. Some other effective strategies that can be implemented
successfully such as modeling, gathering feedback, experimental learning and class
discussion, are the vital resources in order to obtain the desired outcome from the children
(Whitebread et al., 2011). These learning strategies will ensure a cooperative learning
structure between the educators and children through which interaction along with
encouragement, will benefit the students in several ways. The highest achievement will be
promoting team as well as class building so that it will become easier to implement such
strategies in their respective classrooms for better outcomes. The approaches will strengthen
one’s interests in learning activities (Bredekamp, 2014). Thus, it is highly beneficial to lead
children on the path of goal-setting approach that will enhance their process of learning in a
concise, clear and simplistic manner. They will learn to focus and will definitely progress in
their desired field of education.

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Conclusion
However, children do require prior knowledge about physical activities and playful
activities that help them explore their ideas and thoughts adequately. In this way, an increase
in development and in their individual growth can be recognized if children can manage
adopt more ideas through various activities. They will develop practical skills and cognitive
skills and the approaches will help them to secure a bright beginning in their respective
schools. During the stage of the preoperational stage that will range from two-years-old till
seven-years-old, a significant increase will be identified in their physical development and
they will continue to grow taller and gain adequate abilities. Children should indulge
themselves in more active events and should merge their own ideas with the natural objects,
along with their environment. In their cognitive development, children will learn about
enhancing and sharping their skills so that they learn quickly and should have faith in their
individual language capabilities. Through their emotional development, children will learn to
express their personal feelings and emotions and educators should understand their
capabilities so that they lead them on the right path. Thus, they will learn to reflect on their
individual empathy. Through social development, they will learn to cultivate relationships
with their family members and peer group.

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References
Babic, M. J., Morgan, P. J., Plotnikoff, R. C., Lonsdale, C., White, R. L., & Lubans, D. R.
(2014). Physical activity and physical self-concept in youth: systematic review and
meta-analysis. Sports medicine, 44(11), 1589-1601.
Bjorklund, D. F., & Causey, K. B. (2017). Children's thinking: Cognitive development and
individual differences. Sage Publications.
Bredekamp, S. (2014). Effective practices in early childhood education: Building a
foundation. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Bourn, D. (2014). The Theory and Practice of Development Education: A pedagogy for
global social justice. Routledge.
Dowling, M. (2014). Young children's personal, social and emotional development. Sage.
Emde, R. N. (2014). Levels of meaning for infant emotions: A biosocial view. In
Development of cognition, affect, and social relations (pp. 11-48). Psychology Press.
Gordon, A. M., & Browne, K. W. (2013). Beginnings & beyond: Foundations in early
childhood education. Cengage learning.
Gov.wales. (2020). Physical development in Early Childhood stage. Hwb.gov.wales.
Retrieved 2 April 2020, from https://hwb.gov.wales/storage/9b5ebf42-d636-4232-
9452-e186c21b7eae/physical-development.pdf.
Hawkins, J. D., & Weis, J. G. (2017). The social development model: An integrated approach
to delinquency prevention. In Developmental and life-course criminological theories
(pp. 3-27). Routledge.