Child Development Theories

1. Identify the child development theory you most support and explain it in detail. Include relevant details that support your understanding of young children’s characteristics and needs.
Constructivism is a theory associated with Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. Its maid idea was that knowledge was constructed through ones experience and build on from prior knowledge. The construction that the theory name speaks of is learning (Hein, 1991). This theory asserts that knowledge comes from personal experiences and a person’s interpretation of an experience. Piaget built this theory off of the idea that there are definite stages of development, but each child will reach them at a different time and in a different way because development and knowledge
I would like to continue working with children and families a bit, but in the field of psychology. Constructivist theory can be useful for psychology because it encourages growth by participation of the person, in this case child or family, seeking help. Constructivism in psychology follows the same basic principle in that it is believe each person constructs their own knowledge and reality based on his or her own experiences (“Constructivism” 2015), so having knowledge of this theory will help me to aid children and families in reconstructing their realties to yield healthier and more functional family
Others criticize constructivist theory because they feel it places too strong of a focus on play and independent learning by the child. Some of the greatest aspects of this theory according to its supporters are its greatest drawbacks in the eyes of its opposition. Often people will argue that constructivism in a classroom encourages so much freedom that doing something the “right way” is overlooked. However I this creates and environment of independent, free thinkers that will learn to solve problems and address issues in effective ways that no one else