1. Key Theorists of Child Development

2. Sigmund Freud
Believed personality develops through a series of stages
Experiences in childhood will affect adult life
Why are his findings important?
Childhood is more important than previously thought
Effects of childhood are long lasting

3. Arnold Gesell 1880-1961 Psychologist and Pediatrician
Identified developmental milestones for children
Children will reach certain developmental milestones at certain ages
Studied and realized the importance of nature vs. nuture

4. Jean Piaget 1896-1980 First to study children scientifically
Focused on how children learn
Children go through 4 stages of learning
Children must be given learning tasks appropriate to their level of development

5. Maria Montessori
Believed children should be seen as individuals who will develop knowledge at their own pace
Child individualizes instruction based on what is developmentally appropriate for themselves
Founded the Montessori School

6. Lev Vygotsky
Biological development and cultural experience influence children’s ability to learn
Social contact is essential to intellectual development
Children should be given the opportunity for frequent social interaction

7. Erik Erikson 1902-1994 Personality develops in stages
Each stage includes a unique psychological crisis. If the crisis is met in a positive way, the individual develops normally
Parents/caregivers need to be sensitive to children’s needs at each stage of development and support them through crises.

8. B. F. Skinner
Argued that when a child’s actions have positive results, they will be repeated
Negative results will make the actions stop
Parents and other caregivers can affect a child’s behavior through the use of positive and negative feedback

9. Albert Bandura b. 1925 Children learn by imitating others
Although environment shapes behavior, behavior also affects environment
Caregivers must provide good examples for children to follow

10. Urie Bronfenbrenner
Outlined layers of environment that affect a child’s development (such as biology, family, community, environment, and society)
Child’s primary relationship with caregiver needs to be stable, loving, and lasting