Toddlers, Preschoolers and Kindergartners

Toilet Training is an early muscular development that involves bowel and bladder control. According to Berk (1996), a child is really not ready to be toilet trained until the age of two. It is best to start toilet training when the child is ready and willing. If the child is forced to go against his will, he might end up not liking it and this may cause him to take longer to learn (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1998). In one study, researchers have found that a child can be fully toilet trained in four months if parents delay toilet training until the child is two. Putting a child under pressure during toilet training can have a negative impact on the child's emotional development (Berk, 1996).

Language Development

Language involves the ability to use known rules and symbols for effective communication.

We begin acquiring language in infancy by crying, cooing, and babbling. First words typically begin to appear around 11 months of age. These are called holophrases, or one word sentences. Toddlers often communicate using telegraphic speech. During early childhood, children's command of language develops rapidly. They communicate more meaningful information and can comprehend and follow simple instructions.

Language is comprised of the following:

• Phonology - the sound system of the language the child is learning.
• Morphology - involves the combining of words like "help" and "er" to form the word "helper".
• Syntax - words are combined to make a comprehensible sentence.
• Semantics - involves what the words and sentences mean.
• Pragmantics - relates to the practices used in carrying on a conversation.

Together, these elements form human language.

Did you know that...?

- a 2 Year-Olds main form of speech or language consist of two to three word phrases called telegraphic speech. Some examples are: "No sit there" or "Mommy give toy".

- 2 Year-Olds can understand approximately 500 words, speak about 200 words clearly,and answer "Where" questions.

- 3 Year-Olds understand approximately 900 words, and can answer simple "Who, Why, and How" questions. They also begin to ask and answer simple questions. (The famous "Why?"). At about 3 1/2 years of age they understand approximately 1200 words, and they start to speak in 4-5 word sentences.

- 4 Year-Olds can understand about 1500-2000 words, follow 3 step commands, and begin to tell stories with some real and unreal facts in them. They have almost mastered speaking in 4-7 word sentences.

- 5 Year-Olds are able to understand 2500-2800 words, but approximately speak only 1500-2000 words. Their sentences consist of 5-8 words. They also can almost generate and tell a story with accuracy.

Theories of Language Development

Many psychologists have tried to explain how language acquisition occurs. The questions is: does language rest in our genetics (Nature) or do we acquire it from our environment (Nurture)?

The biological theorists of language development argue that language is learned by children all over the world at about the same time and in the same order. Noam Chomsky, a linguist, believes that humans are "biologically prewired to learn language at a certain time and in a cetain way." This is known as the language acquisition device or simply LAD. On the other hand, behaviorists argue that language is learned from experiences. Most agree that it involves both Nature and Nurture.

What can parents do to initiate good language development?

• Most parents already help by routinely naming objects or things in the environment.
• They also use simplification and "match" the child's verbal skills by talking in their terms or at their level.
• By repitition and expansion. Here is an example of this:

Child: Doggie

Parent: Doggie bark

Child: Doggie bark

Parent: The doggie is barking

• The parent is molding the child's language by repeating while expanding and adding a little more words, and the child is imitating the parent. They now have increased their vocabulary.
• Another way is to simply interact with the child while they are playing inside or outside. Use repitition and expansion techniques.

Moral Development

The study of morality in childern includes how a child thinks, behaves and feels about rules. Jean Piaget, the famous Swiss psychologist, describes two stages of morality. These are heteronomous morality and autonomous morality. Preschoolers are in the first stage of moral development which is heteronomous morality. They think rules are set by high authorities (adults, parents, teachers, and God). They also think that rules cannot be changed and must not be broken. They are more concerned about the physical consequence of one's action and behavior rather than the motivation of one's action or behavior. When a child becomes more concerned about the motivation of the action (is it intentional or accidental), then he or she is moving into Piaget's second stage, autonomous morality. This stage develops when the child is about 7 years old or older.

Self-Understanding

Self recognition occurs as early as the child's 18 months of life. In early childhood, the child begins to realize that they are their own self. They begin to develop a better sense of self-understanding. They think of the self in terms of physical terms. If asked to describe themselves, 3-5 year olds would usually talk about their physical appearance, hobbies, and possession.

Here's an example: "My name is Larry and I am 5 years old. I like to play the piano. I also have a dog at home."

Parenting Styles

Parenting styles influence the kind of individual a child will be when they grow up. Child rearing style affects the child's emotional development. Thus, it is very important that a child be raised with healthy child rearing practices.

Parenting young children can sometimes be difficult!

• Two year olds and their temper tantrums? How do you cope with them?
• Three year olds think they know it all. Do they?
• Four year olds are always asking, "Why?" Sometimes we run out of answers!
• Five year olds seem to always demand our attention. What do we do?

There are alot of books, parenting classes, and even college courses on parenting. The stress of being a parent can be a challenge, especially among single parents. One way of minimizing this is to take advantage of opoortunities to learn parent skills.

Here is a brief introduction of different parenting styles.

Permissive parenting is when the parents reason with and manipulate the child. Very few demands, responsibilities, and orderly behavior are exerted on the child. Obedience of the child towards parents are not valued. The child has too much freedom and very little parental control. Children from permissive homes have problems controlling their behaviors and they do not know how to manage their independence very well.

Authoritarian parenting involves parents who are restrictive and punitive. The child is expected to live up to what the parents want and not what the child wants. The child is allowed very little verbal exchange and this results in the child developing a poor communication skill. The child may also be socially incompetent.

Authoritative parents place limits and control on the child but the child is given freedom. There's an equal verbal give and take between parents and child. The parents are also very warm and close to the child. A child with authoritative parents tend to be more socially competent, and socially responsible.

The changes, or development, that occur during early childhood are gradual and continue into the child's adolescence and adulthood. This life stage, like the others, is filled with lots of interesting things and can be a lot of fun.

This page was presented by Marichelle & Danelle

Bye - Bye

References