Child Development Theories Flashcards
7 cards from real ECE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Child Development Theories flashcards as text
Arnold Gesell's maturationist theory suggests that child development is primarily driven by:
Answer: Biologically predetermined sequences that unfold with age
Gesell believed development follows a fixed, universal biological timetable, with readiness for skills emerging from within the child.
According to Vygotsky, 'private speech' (talking aloud to oneself) in young children serves what function?
Answer: A self-regulatory tool that guides thinking and problem-solving
Vygotsky viewed private speech as an important cognitive tool that children use to guide their own behavior, eventually internalizing as silent inner speech.
In Kohlberg's preconventional level of moral development, a child's moral reasoning is based primarily on:
Answer: Avoiding punishment and seeking personal reward
At the preconventional level, children make moral decisions based on consequences to themselves — avoiding punishment (Stage 1) or gaining rewards (Stage 2).
Bandura's concept of 'reciprocal determinism' means that:
Answer: Behavior, personal factors, and the environment mutually influence each other
Reciprocal determinism describes how behavior, cognitive factors, and environmental influences continuously interact and shape one another.
Which of the following is an example of 'parallel play,' as described in Mildred Parten's stages of social play?
Answer: Two children play side-by-side with similar toys but without interacting
Parallel play involves children playing near each other with similar materials but without coordinating their activities or interacting.
Piaget's formal operational stage (ages 12+) is characterized by the ability to:
Answer: Think abstractly and reason about hypothetical situations
Formal operational thinkers can engage in abstract reasoning, consider hypothetical scenarios, and use systematic logic.
An ECE teacher uses a puppet to help a shy child practice asking for a turn on the swings. Which theoretical approach BEST supports this strategy?
Answer: Vygotsky's sociocultural theory — using a mediational tool within the ZPD
The puppet acts as a cultural mediational tool that scaffolds the child's social skill within their zone of proximal development, consistent with Vygotsky's framework.