Mukhtar Ahmad Qureshi
Child psychology forms a strong foundation in laying down early childhood care and education. Child psychology is that body of knowledge that unearths and conducts research on children’s behaviours, thoughts, emotions, and cognitive processes. This makes it possible to get insight into their developmental needs. Early childhood refers to the period from birth to eight years of age. It is a period critical for growth and development in the brain, forming the basis for lifelong learning, behaviour, and health. The understanding of child psychology during these formative years is fundamental to developing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) systems that nurture holistic growth and development in young children.
Understanding Developmental Stages
One of the basic premises of child psychology is the understanding of the various developmental stages children undergo. According to Jean Piaget, a famous developmental psychologist, there are four stages for the development of cognition, sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. In ECCE, most children would fall into the sensorimotor stage running from birth up to two years and the preoperational stage which runs from two up to seven years.
During the sensorimotor stage, children interact and discover the world around them through their senses and activities of their motor. They learn object permanence and develop curiosity about their environment. Therefore, programs within ECCE have to provide sensory-rich environments of stimulating objects, colours, and textures for learning experiences.
In the preoperational stage, children are operating in a symbolic thinking mode, including using words and play, however still egocentric-they would find it very difficult to think from other people’s perspective. Children’s brains do possess space for educators who have some background in child psychology to design activities that will encourage collaborative and problem-solving skills and empathy hence their emotional and social development.
Brain Cultivation
Child psychology research indicates that 95 percent of the brain matures in brain development before the age of five. At this stage, children’s brains are fast wiring their neural connections or building the basis for thought skills such as memory, attention, and language. All these actually happen because of the right stimuli being presented in quality ECCE programs with psychological insights as the backdrop.
For instance, verbal development should also be developed at a tender age. Teachers can assist the child in verbal ability by reading stories and singing songs with the conversations of the children. These activities not only broaden the vocabulary but also help develop the neural pathways that correspond to the brain in communicating. Just like that, puzzles, building blocks, and drawing also develop problem-solving in addition to small motor skills .
Emotional Development
Emotional development is more child-centered. Emotional development equips the child with the ability to express himself while learning others. This emotional development helps in inculcating values like discipline, love, and respect.
Child psychology also talks about and expounds emotional development, the other key feature in early childhood. Early experiences shape up emotion regulation, secure attachment, and self-confidence. There is most famous theory regarding attachment propounded by John Bowlby, An evolutionary psychologist that spells out attachment in more assertive terms about the significance of secure attachment between the child and the caregiver. When children are made to feel safe and loved, they will then venture out into their world and see everything.
Hence, the early childhood care and education settings should promote an emotionally responsive setting. The caregivers or the educators should be able to respond to the emotional needs of children and provide soothing words, encouragement, or praise to the child when needed. Children learn to control their emotions and develop resilience in such settings while they are allowed to have constructive relationships with others.
Developing Socialization
According to child psychology, the social interaction in childhood plays a very important role in shaping the individual’s beliefs and understanding of the world. Cognitive psychologist Lev Vygotsky points out the function of social learning in child development, particularly about the concept labelled as the “Zone of Proximal Development.” He explains that learning is more effective if children are able to achieve tasks just beyond their present capacities when assisted by caregivers, teachers, or peers.
ECCE environments should provide children with opportunities to interact with their peers and engage in group activities and communication as well as conflict resolution. Social interactions help children to understand or learn norms, share, take turns, and become empathetic. Similarly, social interaction contributes to the development of language, cooperation, and collaborative problem solving.
Promoting Self-Concept and Independence
Child psychology highlights further that the child develops the self-concept and becomes independent during early childhood. The child learns a sense of self, which includes their potential and tastes along with limits. Encouraging autonomy and independence is very important at this stage. Educators should give ample opportunity to the child so that they can have choices, solve problems, and have responsibilities commensurate with age.
For example, letting children pick an activity, clean up after themselves, or take care of a plant leaves them feeling responsible and accomplishment. Such activities positively boost their self-esteem as they start to realize their ability to make a real contribution in their environment. Child psychology plays an important role in early childhood care and education. Educators can, indeed, provide enriching and nurturing environments for young learners through understanding the phases of development, nurturing the growth of the brain, showing support in emotional well-being, encouraging socialization, and promoting independence. Such principles of child psychology in early childhood will ensure that these children receive proper care and education for them to grow both in the classroom and out of it. Psychology can be portrayed as having a concept for ECCE such that learning would not only mean knowledge but the whole process of nurturing the Child-Cognitively, emotionally, and social.
(The author hails from Boniyar Baramulla and can be reached at [email protected])
