Environmentalist Theory

Theorists like John Watson, B.F. Skinner, and Lbert Bandura contributed greatly to the environmentalist perspective of development. They believe that the childs environment plays a part in how the child learns and the behavior that they develop. Human behavior, development, and learning are thought of as reactions to the environment. And this perspective has shaped many families, schools, and educators to assume that young children do in fact aquire new knowledge by reacting to their surroundings.

We agree that human behavior and development is very closely related to your environment and how you learn. Depending on the environment you were raised in your learning habits will be different and will cause you to react in a different way to your surroundings. We also think that the better learning environment that is available to the child, the more efficiently they will develop through natural stages of growing up.

Different Stages of Learning:
Kindergarten readiness; according to these environmentalists is the age when young children learn to respond appropriately to the school environment. The ability to respond positively to this environment is completely necessary in order for children to develop certain habits in school. Such as participating actively in class discussions and activities, following instructions, listening, etc. A study found that children learn best through rote activities, which includes reciting the alphabet over and over, copying letters, and tracing numbers. When children are unable to respond in the appropriate way to school and the classroom, they are often labeled as having a learning disability.




http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/childdevtheory.htm
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/students/earlycld/ea7lk18.htm

Signs of Abuse and Steps To Take

Signs of abuse that you can spot are children that act very withdrawn, distant, and very quite. Also, they may be skiddish to movements toward them. The opposite reaction to abuse could also include the child being very impulsive and they may act out to get attention at school or in public because they lack that sort of attention at home or wherever the abuse occurs. If you spot or suspect abuse in your childs life you need to find the abuse and stop it as soon as possible to hopefully prevent any mental disorders of insecurities, or lifelong lessions of them too being impulsive or abusive.

Essential Social Needs

Being involved in recreational activities such as being in school groups or clubs, sports, and exposure to other children. This is essential because it teaches children how to be accepted into society and how to make friends, while developing common knowledge needed for further learning and interaction with people in general.

Essential Emotional Needs

A child needs to know set rules and boundaries that he or she has to follow. The parent needs to set these to let the child know whats acceptable and what isn't. Also, parents need to refrain from putting their children down. Putdowns could cause confidence problems in the future. I think children also need some sort of companionship, whether that’s siblings, pets or friends. We think it is important for children to grow up with at least one strong friendship or companionship with either an animal, sibling or friend so that they can confide in someone and learn early on the importance of strong relationships in your life and the positive effects they can have on people.

Essential Physical Needs

Having Pets

Family

Hands On Learning ^

The physical environment that we see fit for children to be properly raised in should include proper food. Proper nutrition is extremely necessary to the overall health and wellness of child. With proper nutrition the child will have energy and be happier. Clothes are definitely a necessity to the physical needs of any child. Proper bathing for the child is also a physical need just as much as bathing is for the adult. Being clean improves self esteem and makes the child confident about themselves. It is also good for their health and overall physical wellness. Water is probably the biggest component to physical needs of anyone. It keeps your immune system clean and hydrates your body to run properly. In our society today technology seems to be a necessity to the average child and household. We dont see the harm in technology because it is a big part of children today's future. They will be required to handle technology and complex systems of thought process when they are older looking for a job. So introducing them to dealing with technology whatever it may be, seems important to their physical needs.