September 16, 2013
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Woman Cries Over Child Development Theorists
I am currently writing an essay comparing two child development theorists. I have read pages and pages of highly technical information about how and why children develop the way that they do and the impact that the early years have on the rest of their lives. Some of it is very interesting and I have found helps me make sense of children that I have worked with. It cannot be denied just how valuable all this research is because without it we would still think of children as little adults ready to be moulded. Though not everyone has knowledge of the people that changed the way that we view children, the majority of us now believe that children are individuals and that childhood is to be enjoyed. Of course some people would probably say that they believe that because it is right and not because a theorist told them. This is the truth but it is also a fact that social groups at any one period in history tend to have similar views and thoughts regardless of whether it was directly taught to them. This of course leads onto the subject of collective subconscious and whether any of us do actually think truly as an individual but that is a whole other subject.
The point of this post is to lead up to the point where I began to cry as I read the thoughts of one of my two theorists. As I have previously stated, the research of these people are very valuable, however, in reading so many you do wonder if any of them view the parents or the child as actual people. Therefore to read the following statement by Donald Winnicott in his book The Child, the Family and the Outside World was a relief…. a relief that resulted in me in tears and saying outloud to an empty room ‘that is just so beautiful!’….
…. “if I were you, I would not wait until the psychologists have decided how human a baby is at birth – I should go right ahead and get to know this little person”
Incidentally… I also cried a little bit later at the X Factor rehearsals (again).
Comments (8)
I think it’s sometimes difficult for clinicians to remember emotionally that their subjects are not clinical. They know it cognitively (usually) but it’s easy to miss the heart when your focus is the brain.
As for individualism and original, individual thought, yes I believe in it. But I believe it’s more difficult in a population often herded along as per protocol without regard for individual need. This is the main reason I homeschool my children. To allow them individualism in a world that’s often incapable of treating them as more than a number.
Good for you for remembering the heart in your essay and endeavors.
I am beginning to seriously consider homeschooling my children (when I have them). I have worked with children for nearly 10 years and seen so many children leave me (the daycare I work at – I’m deputy manager) and just knowing that however much effort I have put into helping their parents and speaking to the school they are going to that they are just going to get lost in their system and never develop to their full potential… It makes me quite angry that we have failed to produce a school system that can meet everyone’s individual strengths and personality. We know full well that everyone learns in different ways and then we (I am talking about the UK here, though I imagine it is not much different in the US!) place 30+ children all in the same class with one teacher and expect that teacher to meet all of their needs… and that’s assuming that that teacher is open minded enough to appreciate different learning styles and different personalities which half of them aren’t. Sorry… went off on a bit of a rant there… anyway, I am more and more thinking about home schooling and I admire you for taking that step to give your children individuality.
<— is with you on the homeschooling
I’m hoping to homeschool. I breastfeed and snuggle my girl constantly and she’s self-potty training at 18 months. She reads books and paints and is using some sentences. It pains me to see what other parents do to their children not even knowing what the effects will be.
I’ve been thinking a bit about homeschooling too, but I don’t know how effective a teacher I’d be. I can barely keep myself on track with things I need to do all day, let alone keep someone else on track with their education! And it’ll probably get worse the more kids I have lol.
what could possibly be better than getting to know little people…or big people for that matter. I’m going to read that book.
Homeschooling has its pluses, but so does the social interaction of general education. It would be nice to see some major breakthroughs in education models and methods.