I have to say that Erikson remains my favorite theorist. He has easy to understand theories and stages, at least for me. There are many theories from many professionals and they all make sense but you have consider more then one when teaching children. Not all children learn the same way. A theory that works for one may not work for some. Either way they all have theories n how children think. How they act and process things. When reading the Mooney book, I didn't realize that some of the theorists were born in late 1800's/early1900's. My grandmother was born in 1912 and I am interested in how these theorists thought of how children of her age were growing and learning. There are so many theories by so many influential theorists many are similar or parts of each other and some are so different.
Montessori specialized in working with impoverished children. Her care centers were designed in part to keep kids off the streets and in turn she found that they were interested in learning. I like her ideas of child size furniture and real tools. It is so common play now but back then that was radical way of thinking. I just recently went on a life skills field trip and we went to Oak Lawn Children's Museum. They have everything cold size. The work/tool room had all the safety necessities and real hammers and nails and even saws. That made me very nervous.
Piaget wants teachers to give children large blocks of time t just play. Have as many real world experience as they can and use open ended activities and questions to get them thinking. In our district's preschool program, that is a requirement. This supports development in children on many levels. This way children will learn through inquiry and experiences. These were the theorists that jumped out at me and the ones I feel I use on a day to day basis. Their ideas d actually help me understand my students better. Or at least try to.
Chapter 13 was kind of about all the of the different theories on lifespan development and how they can be used in everyday life. Physical, social, cognitive and emotional development impact our lives in small ways and in large ways. They are essential to growing children into productive and good lives.
It is important as parents, future parents and as educators to know some of these theories and know how children think, learn and grow. Many theories are are easily applied and understood. Many use each others work and build on it with their own ideas, sometimes improving it or sometimes changing it completely.
The times may have changed from when these theorists came up with their ideas and studies but children have not. Children still need the basic fundamentals provided in most of these theories and it is our responsibility to implement them the bestsellers way we can.
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