Child Development and Self Esteem

Running head: CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND SELF-ESTEEM ISSUE PAPER 4

Child Development and Self-Esteem Issue Paper

Child Development and Self-Esteem Issue Paper 4

The period of childhood sets the stage for how well children view themselves, each other, and their world. Early experiences also provide a template for learning and are the true test for how well children will do in school and manage the daily events in their environment. Social and emotional development in childhood continues to be an area of great interest and an area that is explored by researchers and practitioners from a variety of disciplines. Many theories have been postulated attempting to explain the origins of the young child’s mind and their rubric from problem solving and relationship building. Erikson and Vygotsky assert that children need a safe, predictable base for exploration. It was noted that autonomous thinking and participation is the fruit of such as base and the developing child is the glowing product.

Emotional development in early childhood

Early childhood, for most children, includes starting school. Erikson (1980) looked at this stage as being a time when initiative challenges guilt because children, during early childhood, become more assertive and take initiative to say what they believe. The challenge of this developmental period is to maintain a zest for activity while learning to control impulse. Children begin to reason concretely and categorize themselves by the various traits they believe they possess. What is visible (such as physical features) strongly influences their self-worth. During this time, a child's level of social adjustment depends on caring adults who allow them to make choices and learn from their mistakes. Adults are important to children with their words of encouragement and support. Resiliency builds when children have a caring other who helps them progress through difliculties and bounce back to move on positively. Children who have this...