See How They Grow: The Early Childhood YearsThis book discusses the developmental characteristics and needs of preschoolers and how to create an environment that fosters growth in all facets of their development. The four chapters examine intellectual development, social-emotional growth, spiritual growth, and physical development. Each chapter explores the particular needs and characteristics of each phase of development and offers suggestions supported by examples of how theories work in practice. Chapter 1 looks at how learning occurs, stages of learning, five tasks of preschool learning, and the learning environment. Chapter 2 examines the components of social-emotional development and stresses the need for: (1) gender identification and sex-role freedom; (2) development of self-esteem; (3) the opportunity to talk about feelings; (4) good conflict resolution; (5) trust, autonomy, and initiative; (6) multicultural experiences; (7) friendship; and (8) moral development. Chapter 3 explores ways of celebrating aspects of life that have deep meaning, noting that children appropriate a sense of values and a healthy spirit from approaching life with wonder; from being close to loving, trustworthy adults; and from celebrating special occasions with enthusiasm and creativity. Chapter 4 discusses three basic approaches to physical development: informal exercise, formal exercise, and wholesome nutrition. The list of 76 suggested resources includes professional materials, children's books, curriculum materials and videos, and records and cassette tapes. (TJQ) |
Common terms and phrases
adult Advent wreath apple autonomy baby basic birthday body booth boys don't cry cake celebrate challenge chil childcare center children learn Children need Children's Books circle classroom creative play curriculum delight doll dren eggs experience feel Food Guide Pyramid gender identification girl growing growth Halloween Hanukkah hurt informal exercise Johnny Appleseed Kinara kind Kwanzaa Laurent learning environment let the children Maria Montessori motions multi-cultural nursery school nurture objects paper Parents and teachers persons physical development Piaget picture preoperational preschool children relatedness rhythm ride Rosa Parks self-esteem sense of trust sense of wonder sensorimotor period seriation share skills Smithsonian Folkways Recordings snack song spiritual story Suggested Resources talk task teaching Thumbkin Tinker Toys tion told touch toys understand variety walking William's Doll York Young Children