Child Development essays

Our free example child development essays cover a wide range of topics, including types of development, parenting styles, cognitive development, intelligence, social and emotional development, attachment and bonding, nature vs nurture, fears, brain development, stages of language, phonological / morpho-syntactic development, growth, routines, sharing, healthy food and living, balanced diets, health and safety, child protection and much more. Use these essays to inspire your own research and writing.

“Phonological awareness and decoding skills are necessary but not sufficient in becoming a skilled reader”

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Critically evaluate and discuss the claim that phonological awareness and decoding skills are necessary but not sufficient in becoming a skilled reader. Introduction: Reading is the ability to decode and understand the printed information. Though for most typically developed people reading is an effortless ability, it involves a range of sophisticated cognitive skills and processes, … Read more

Critically evaluate the cycle of human development and the significance of diversity in relation to life stages and transitions.

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Human Development can be defined as “the scientific study of age related changes in behaviour, thinking, emotion and personality” (Boyd & Bee 2006, p 3). There are many different theories and thus, debates, behind the various stages of human development over the lifespan, as it is rich in complexity. A review of the literature in … Read more

Psychological perspectives on learning

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A major learning theory is the psychological perspective Behaviourism. Work within this perspective was first carried out in the early part of the 20th century (Scales, 2008, p.58) Behaviourism is concerned with observable changes in behaviour which can be scientifically measured. This perspective is a comparative approach which suggests human learning is by association and … Read more

Family integration and child development

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Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) specifically incorporates an holistic approach to education to develop the whole child, ‘children learn best when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs are met, and when they have positive relationships with the adults caring for them’ (2014, pg. 16). Early Help Assessments (EHA) have replaced CAF with … Read more

Applying theories of John Bowlby / Donald Winnicott / Daniel Stern to observational case study

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DANIEL STERN Daniel Stern spent his career examining how the infant develops a sense of self and he did this by bringing together two concepts: The observed infant is a result of clinical observations made between mother and baby, recorded and analysed by Stern and others. The clinical infant is a reconstruction of an adult’s … Read more

Discourses of children, childhood and care / influence on policies and practices

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A critical analysis of past and current discourses of children, childhood and care and a review of how these discourses might influence policies and practices in my setting In this essay, I will provide a critical analysis of some past and current discourses of children, childhood and care, and attempt to review how these discourses … Read more

Behavioural approach to child development

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Having an understanding of child development is essential for practitioners, as it allows us to have an appreciation for the cognitive, biological, psychological, emotional, physical, social and educational growth that children progress through from birth into early adulthood. We must remember that every child will progress at a different rate, but should be hitting certain … Read more

Childrens’ personal, social and emotional development (PSED)

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Within every early years setting as a foundation of its practice all practitioners must develop and be mindful of children’s personal, social and emotional development (PSED). This one key principle is deemed the central anchor for all practice and outlined in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)(EYFS,2014) which is made up of three documents two … Read more

Parent child bonding

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The following research paper includes both primary, and a variety of secondary sources in regards to parenting child bonding and attachment, as well as its affect on future relationships. Child abuse is a prevalent issue in today’s society therefore it is crucial to know the impact it has on a growing child, in an effort … Read more

Effect of parental attitudes on children’s social problem behaviors

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Abstract In this study it was aimed to examine the effects of parental attitudes on their 3-7 year-old children’s social behaviors. Parents of 70 children constitute the target group of this research. In the study, Child Behavior Evaluation Scale has been used for children, and Parental Attitudes Scale (PAS) has been used for the parents. … Read more

Impact of sporting programs on adolescents’ social development

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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Theorists Teens in today’s society undergo many challenges that require adaptation. Psychological, intellectual, and physical changes attribute to the many obstacles adolescents are faced with overcoming. They must learn to cope with the overarching theme of responsibility that may include balancing acts of school, jobs, and extracurricular activities (Gholamzadeh, Jadidi, & Donyavi, … Read more

How poverty increases risk of young people experiencing disadvantage

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Introduction Society today for children and young people is a very different setting to that of our grandfathers and grandmothers who endured the uncertainty and fear of living in war time conditions. They were a generation of people with great resilience and this is a trait largely missing in the current young generation which is … Read more

Linking Freud, Jung, Bowlby with Psychoanalytic Play

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 While working with trauma or emotional difficulties in children, it is essential to work at an appropriate level that corresponds to the child’s developing mind. Identifying the clients’ cognitive and emotional abilities will mitigate their therapeutic journeys and support the development of coping strategies. As younger children have a limited verbal capacity, especially articulating … Read more

Nature & Nurture Debate Concerning Gender & Child Development

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 The theory of the Blank Slate is deceiving to those who continue to embrace it under the false assumption that different implies unequal. Pinker explains that genetic variation does not suggest the superiority of one gender or the other, rather that men and women possess genes specialized for distinct purposes. Genes that develop certain … Read more

Compare and contrast Freud’s psychoanalytic theory and Erikson’s neo-analytic theory

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Introduction This essay will look and focus on the two theories namely theory by Freud which is the psychoanalytic theory and theory by Erikson which is the neo-analytic theory. This essay will compare and contrast the theories and focus on the similarities and the differences between the two theories. Furthermore this essay will focus on … Read more

Explain different theories and frameworks of child and young person development

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Cognitive Development Theory Piaget Piaget observed children doing a series of simple but in genius tests to reveal different cognitive abilities. He found that children are merely less competent thinkers than adult and he showed that young children think in strikingly different ways compared to adults. According to Piaget children are born with a very … Read more

Compare and Contrast the Work and Ideas of three early years educators/curricular approaches

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Prior to the 18th century children were largely regarded as mini adults, and no special provision was made for them. Since then however, attitudes towards children have slowly changed and we now recognise the importance of play in a child’s development. cal1966, please do not redistribute this essay. We work very hard to create this website, … Read more

Modern theories of play

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Research into early childhood development has widely focused on role of play towards the development of children. Developmental and psychological theories have suggested play to be one of many sources that influence language, social, cognitive and emotional development in children (Piaget, 1961; Vygotsky, 1978). Ever since, numerous researches consisting of varying methodological designs have investigated … Read more

Leadership in childcare

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Introduction “It’s not the strongest or the most intelligent leaders who will survive but those who can best manage change” Charles Darwin. (n.d.) Early learning and Childcare is in the process of a huge transformation and expansion. Building the Ambition (Scottish Government, 2014) supports the Governments ambition for Early Learning and Childcare and provides practitioners … Read more

Responsibilities of early childhood teachers

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In New Zealand (NZ), the responsibilities of early childhood teachers in implimenting treaty based education have emerged from Te Tiriti O Waitangi/ The Treaty of Waitangi. This historically significant document was signed by representatives of the British Crown and NZ’s Maori Chiefs (Rangatira) in the year 1840. The treaty can be called a “symbol of … Read more

Child abuse

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Abstract Child abuse can be defined as any physical, neglect, or sexual abuse on a child. In the state of Alabama, nurses must mandatory report to the proper authority to further investigate to confirm or rule out child abuse. Professionals who observe child abuse or neglect are required to ‘immediately’ report’or cause to be reported’the … Read more