2.1: Defining the Young Child
- Page ID
- 202919
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Who is the Young Child?
Historical Perspectives
The idea of childhood, as we understand it today, did not exist until the late 19th century (Mintz, 2022). Historical views of childhood focused primarily on survival and the child's ability to contribute to this goal. It had been widely accepted that children were to be "treated indifferently, dealt with harshly, and regarded as miniature adults" (Budzyna & Buckley, 2023).
Even in the last 130 years, every aspect of childhood has changed from schooling, to entertainment, and how children spend their time (Mintz, 2022).
What is Childhood?
Childhood is a life stage defined by biology, physiology, social status, and developmental domains. How children think, act, perceive, and understand the world around them is what distinctly sets them apart from adults. In very basic ways, children are all alike, as evidenced by three common characteristics (Gordon & Browne, 2007):
- Children all have basic needs,
- Children experience the same developmental stages, and
- Children have the same developmental goals.
The children you will work with are as diverse as the people who work with them. Many programs are divided by age groups, so that is one way to define “who are the children” (Stephens et. al, 2023):
"Ages and Stages". by Amber Tankersley is licensed CC BY-SA. Accessible version.
Each Child is Unique
How and when these variables intersect (genetics, physiology, social status, development, and needs), is what makes each child unique. The concept of the whole child is based on the principle that all areas of growth and development across the lifespan are interrelated.
References
Budzyna, . & Buckley, . (2023). Understanding the whole child.
Gordon, A.M. & Browne, K.W. (2007). Beginning essentials in early childhood education. Thomson Delmar Learning: Clifton Park, NY.
Mintz, S. (2022). Has childhood changed? Inside Higher Ed: Opinion Blogs. Retrieved March 21, 2024: https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs...ldhood-changed.
Stephens, C., Peterson, G., Eyrich, S. & Paris, J. (2023). ECD Principles and Practices. LibreTexts. Retrieved March 26, 2024: https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Cou...er/2.03%3A_Who