Child development theories are all about how children grow
and change during the course of childhood. Child development
theories focus on different aspects of development of a child
including emotional, social and cognitive growth. Child faces
conflicts during each stage which plays an important role in the
course of development. Subsequently and successfully each stage
helps to grow a healthy adult personality. Consider if a child
fails to resolve the conflicts of a particular age it may have an
influence on adult behaviour. Children were viewed simply a
small versions of adult where little attention was paid to many
advances in their intellectual abilities and physical growth. A
theory of development deals with three things. First, it should
explain changes among different aspects of development.
Second, it should explain changes over time within individual or
several areas of child development. Third, it should explain
these changes. No one theory has proved enough to explain
learning or development. There are number of theories which
play a major role in child development. This kind of theories
can be useful to consider. Many parents take help of these
theories to understand about the child development. By
understanding each theoretical approach, different parts of the
theory can be used and it is also an useful way to further
your understanding. These kinds of development theories may
help you to interpret your observation. Different development
theories are associated with different specialist people. For
example, psychological and emotional developments are
connected with Erik Erikson, Mary Ainswoth and john Bowlby.
Cognitive development is associated with theorist Piaget,
Vygootsky and Skinner. They developed theories based on
cognitive development and a variety of approaches of teaching
have since grown from that work and the work of other
theorist. Other approach concerned with cognitive development
includes 'behaviourism' 'information processing' and
'constructivism'. After that by understanding language theory
can build a foundation for your own thoughts and beliefs on
how you think children develop their communication skills and
language. The theorist who discussed here are those Lev
Vygotsky, BF Skinner, John Watson, Albert Bandura and Noam
Chomsky. There are number of theorists who are clearly linked
with social development. In addition to Erik Erikson, John
Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth whose ideas where discussed
under 'emotional and psychological development'. The American
theorist and researcher arnoid Gesell was an early proponent of
maturation theory. He found the nature's role in children's
development. There is also a long running debate which is
about whether our biological heritage. This was just a brief
introduction to the child development theories. Want to know
more about it? You have got to read out the entire book then.
