Early Childhood History

Importance of Knowing Early Childhood History

• Understanding the present: Learning from past experiences to better understand how we arrived at the current state of child development knowledge.
• Evolution of knowledge: Insight into how our understanding of child development has evolved over time.
• Key contributors: Introduction to significant figures who impacted the field through their commitment to young children.

Ancient Perspectives

Plato and Aristotle (350 BC)

• Plato:
  • Highlighted developmental characteristics and caretaking (swaddling, rocking, cooing).
  • Emphasized protecting children from pain, fear, grief, and corruption.
• Aristotle:
  • Advocated for infants' free use of their limbs and acclimation to the cold early.
  • Stressed the importance of milk in infants’ diet (wine as a substitute was common).
  • Recognized childhood as a separate developmental stage.

15th to 17th Century Perspectives

Martin Luther and Erasmus

• Martin Luther:
  • Suggested that everyone, including young children, should be able to read God’s word.
• Erasmus:
  • Proposed that children were born good and should be valued for their future potential.
  • Contrasted with the harsh religious views of the time.

John Amos Comenius (15th-17th Century)

• Continued Luther’s ideas on the importance of educating young children.
• Credited with writing the first children’s book.

Johann Gutenberg

• Invented the printing press, enabling wider access to written knowledge.
• Printed the Bible, significantly impacting literacy and education.

Development of Early Childhood Education (1693-19th Century)

John Locke (1693)

• Published "Some Thoughts Concerning Education," detailing physical and psychological training of children.
• Gained knowledge from his active involvement with children as a guardian and tutor.

Jean Jacques Rousseau (18th Century)

• Controversial for balancing freedom and authority in child-rearing.
• Believed children were born good, contrasting with religious beliefs of inherent sinfulness.
• Rousseau’s followers like Pestalozzi advocated educational practices based on these beliefs.

Friedrich Froebel

• Emphasized play as essential to childhood, leading to the creation of kindergarten.

Charles Darwin

• Known for his theory of evolution, also an astute observer of child development.
• Published observations on children, helping validate research in child development.

G. Stanley Hall

• Introduced early childhood research in America post-European studies.
• Implemented questionnaires to understand children's minds.
• Introduced Sigmund Freud to the American audience.

Influential Theorists and Concepts

Sigmund Freud

• Introduced psychoanalytical theory concerning pleasure and pain drives from infancy.
• Advocated for attachment theory, emphasizing the need for dependable caregivers.

John Dewey (20th Century)

• Wrote "Democracy and Education," linking education with democratic society.
• Promoted concepts of growth and progressive education.

Behaviorism and Psychology

• Ivan Pavlov: Known for classical conditioning (Pavlov’s dog).
• B.F. Skinner: Believed in behavioral shaping through reinforcement rather than punishment.
• Albert Bandura: Proposed social learning theory (learning by imitation and observation).

Key Figures in Early Childhood Education

Maria Montessori

• Advocated for the significant influence of the environment on child development.
• Promoted the idea that every child could be educated given the right environment.

Patty Smith Hill

• Founded the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
• Opened a lab school at Columbia University and wrote the "Happy Birthday" song.

Impact of World Wars

World War I and II

• World War I: Ended in 1918, halting early childhood research.
• World War II: Women took over factories/businesses; government established child care centers (WPI).

Post-War Developments

Jean Piaget

• Considered the grandfather of cognitive development.
• Focused on hands-on learning, open-ended questions, and stages of development.

Lev Vygotsky

• Known for concepts like the zone of proximal development and scaffolding.
• Believed in children constructing their own knowledge.

Erik Erikson and Mary Ainsworth

• Contributed theories on psychosocial development.

Contemporary Issues

• Push for basic standards and universal pre-K programs.
• Debate over developmentally appropriate practices like testing for young children.