Introduction

Child development refers to the sequence of physical, language, thought and emotional changes

that occur in a child from birth to the beginning of adulthood. During this process a child

progresses from dependency on their parents/guardians to increasing independence. Child

development is strongly influenced by genetic factors (genes passed on from their parents) and

events during prenatal life. It is also influenced by environmental facts and the child’s learning

capacity.

Child development can be actively enhanced through targeted therapeutic intervention and the

‘just right’ home-based practice, recommended by Occupational Therapists and Speech

Therapists. Child development covers the full scope of skills that a child masters over their life

span including development in:

 Cognition – the ability to learn and problem solve

 Social interaction and emotional regulation – interacting with others and mastering self-

control

 Speech and Language – understanding and using language, reading and communicating

 Physical skills – fine motor (finger) skills and gross motor (whole body) skills

 Sensory awareness – the registration of sensory information for use.

Approaches to Childcare and Development

Approaches to childcare and development vary widely based on cultural, social, and individual

factors. Here are several common approaches:

 1. Attachment Parenting: This approach emphasizes building a strong emotional bond

between caregiver and child. Practices include babywearing, breastfeeding on demand,

co-sleeping, and being responsive to a child's needs promptly. The aim is to promote a

secure attachment, which is believed to foster emotional security and independence later

in life.

2. The Montessori Approach

Montessori education was developed in the first half of the 20th century by one of the first

women physician in Italy. Maria Montessori (1870-1952), started working with atypically

developing children and with low-income children. Her work reached then to children of all

social classes around the world. Dr. Montessori first developed her educational approach while

working with a preschool population, in particular, children with disabilities. She gradually

extended her approach to children and youth of all ages and abilities. Today, some Montessori

schools provide all levels of learning, from infant & toddler through the secondary (high school)

level.

The Montessori Method

The Montessori Method is a child-centered approach in which children are viewed as active

participants in their own development, strongly influenced by natural, dynamic, self-correcting

forces within themselves, opening the way toward growth and learning. The teachers are

considered nurturers, partners, and guides to the children. They depend on carefully prepared,

aesthetically pleasing environments as a pedagogical tool.

Montessori emphasizes independent learning, letting children grow into lifelong learners and

responsible citizens of the world. In Montessori education, children are grouped into multiage
classrooms spanning three years, promoting adult-child continuity and close peer relationships.

Montessori classrooms provide carefully prepared, orderly, pleasing environments and materials

where children are free to respond to their natural tendency to work individually or in small

groups.

The children progress at their own pace and rhythm, according to their individual capabilities.

The school community as a whole, including the parents, work together to open the children to

the integration of body, mind, emotions, and spirit that is the basis of holistic peace education.

The Montessori teacher plays the role of unobtrusive director in the classroom as children

individually or in small groups engage in self-directed activity. The teacher's goal is to help and

encourage the children, allowing them to develop confidence and inner discipline so that there is

less and less need to intervene as the child develops. Montessori developed a set of manipulative

objects designed to support children’s learning of sensory concepts such as dimension, color,

shape and texture, and academic concepts of mathematics, literacy, science, geography and

history. They are given the freedom to choose what they work on, where they work, with whom

they work, and for how long they work on any particular activity, all within the limits of the class

rules. No competition is set up between children, and there is no system of extrinsic rewards or

punishments. These two aspects—the learning materials themselves, and the nature of the

learning—make Montessori classrooms look strikingly different to conventional classrooms

(Marshall, 2017).

2.1 Core Principles

The Method is seen as a strong educational alternative to traditional education both in elementary

and early childhood education, and it is a source of inspiration for progressive educational

reform.

The core principles of the Montessori Method are:

• Mixed age classrooms

• Student choice of activity from within a prescribed range of options

• Uninterrupted blocks of work time, ideally three hours.

• Constructivist or self-discovery model rather than direct instruction

• Specialized educational materials often made out of natural, aesthetic materials such as wood,

rather than plastic.

•Environment organized to promote choice, easy access, and appropriate in size

• Freedom to move within the classroom

• A trained teacher who follows the child’s lead and promote a child’s innate talents and abilities.

Environmental Control

Preschool children need space, an area that is theirs alone and time to use it effectively. The

personal space needs of the child may be a small area in the classroom or home that is defined as

theirs alone. Here the child can practice self-help skills and eliminate frustrations. For instance,

the young child will be much more apt to dress himself/herself if the clothing in the closet is

easily obtainable. Imagine the feelings of a child trying to grasp an article of clothing that is just

beyond his/her reach. Additional environmental control techniques can be applied within the
context of time. Young children need time to conform; this may be due in part to their immature

concept of time. Both adult and child are likely to experience less anger and frustration with the

statement " I n ten minutes you will need to finish your game so we can eat dinner" than the

command "Come eat dinner now! "

Body Language Techniques

Included in this category are some relatively simple physical cues which might give the child

information relative to the adult's feelings about his/her behavior. When an adult stands and talks

down to a child, he/she assumes more of an authoritarian stance. More positive adult/child

interaction can occur when the adult positions himself/herself at the child's physical level, eye to

eye. At this level, the child will see that the adult is committed to his/her stance, and the adult

will be more assured of the child's attention. Facial expression and voice tone can often

communicate more to the child than the words that are spoken. Be certain that all three of these

transmit the same message to the child. This might eliminate contradictory signals the child

might otherwise receive.

Under certain conditions the adult may want to use physical contact to guide behavior. This

might include holding the child to prevent destructive behavior. An adult touch during a

frustrating situation may have a calming effect on the child, thereby avoiding potentially

destructive behavior or extinguishing inappropriate behavior before it occurs.

Verbal Techniques

A basic tenet is that discipline statements should be expressed positively whenever possible. This

requires considerable effort in the beginning. For example, it is easier to say "Don't run in the
house" than "You need to walk in the house," The former example tells the child what he cannot

do while the latter tells him/her what he/she may do.

children's understanding of language needs to be considered if adults hope to communicate

effectively with children. Adults who speak in short, meaningful sentences which the child can

understand are likely to reduce misunderstanding that might lead to anger and frustration.

Providing reasons and explanations for the child may further add to positive communication

between adult and child. One father felt that his son and daughter were fighting with each other

unnecessarily. He sat down with Chris and Jennifer and explained the benefits of cooperative

play and suggested they try building a club house together. In providing a reason for not fighting

(without pronouncing judgment) as well as constructive follow through activity this father

allowed his children to develop new patterns in their relationship. Another addition to the

repertoire of verbal responses is the channeling statement. This directs behavior into more

positive outlets. One might suggest to a child who is hitting another child that he/she try hitting

some inanimate object. For channeling to be effective the adult must suggest a positive

involvement that maintains the same activity level as the unacceptable behavior. This will ease

the transition from one activity to the other and any tension which might be present between

adult and child during the correction process.

The child should not be offered a choice when he/she does not have one. When it is necessary for

the child to come in from outside play, tell him/her "It is time to come inside. I will help you put

your toys away" instead of asking him/her if he/she would like to come inside. When the child

does have a choice, it is desirable to let him make his own decision and follow it through to the

end result. This will enable the child to learn to take responsibility for his own actions as well as

aiding the development of problem-solving skills.

ECLECTIC APPROACH

The eclectic approach in childcare and development involves integrating elements from various

educational theories, methods, and practices to create a flexible and individualized strategy for

each child's needs. This approach acknowledges that no single method is universally applicable

or effective for all children and situations. Here are key aspects of the eclectic approach:

Key Aspects of the Eclectic Approach

1. Flexibility:

o Caregivers and educators adapt their strategies based on the unique needs,

interests, and developmental stages of each child.

o This approach allows for the modification of methods as children grow and their

needs evolve.

2. Personalization:

o An individualized plan is created for each child, incorporating techniques from

different educational philosophies.

o Personalized attention helps address the specific strengths and challenges of each

child.

3. Holistic Development:

o The eclectic approach supports the overall development of a child, including

physical, emotional, social, and cognitive aspects.

o It combines various techniques to nurture a well-rounded development process.

4. Incorporation of Best Practices:

 o Educators and caregivers select and combine the most effective practices from

multiple approaches.

o This can include elements from Montessori, Reggio Emilia, play-based learning,

attachment parenting, and more.

5. Responsiveness to Cultural and Individual Differences:

o The approach respects and incorporates cultural, familial, and individual

differences.

o It emphasizes understanding the child's background, environment, and personal

experiences.

Examples of Integration

1. Montessori and Play-Based Learning:

o Combining the structured, self-directed activities of Montessori with the

imaginative and social aspects of play-based learning.

o Children benefit from the independence fostered by Montessori materials while

also engaging in creative play that enhances social skills.

2. Attachment Parenting and Positive Discipline:

o Using the nurturing, responsive care principles of attachment parenting alongside

the respectful, non-punitive strategies of positive discipline.

o This helps in building secure attachments and promoting positive behavior

through understanding and communication.

3. Reggio Emilia and Constructivist Approaches:

 o Merging the Reggio Emilia focus on creativity and collaborative learning with the

constructivist emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning.

o Encouraging children to explore and construct knowledge through projects that

reflect their interests and questions.

Benefits of the Eclectic Approach

1. Adaptability:

o It allows for quick adjustments based on the child's changing needs and

circumstances.

o This flexibility can lead to more effective and timely interventions.

2. Inclusivity:

o The approach can be inclusive of children with diverse abilities, learning styles,

and backgrounds.

o It can be tailored to support children with special needs alongside their peers.

3. Enhanced Engagement:

o By incorporating various methods, children are more likely to stay engaged and

motivated.

o Different activities and teaching styles can capture children's interests in multiple

ways.

4. Comprehensive Development:

o The eclectic approach supports comprehensive development by addressing

multiple areas of growth simultaneously.

 o Children can develop cognitively, emotionally, socially, and physically through a

well-rounded approach.

Challenges and Considerations

1. Consistency:

o Balancing multiple methods requires careful planning to ensure consistency and

coherence in the child’s experience.

o Educators need to be skilled in integrating diverse approaches seamlessly.

2. Training and Knowledge:

o Caregivers and educators must be well-versed in various educational theories and

practices.

o Continuous professional development is essential to stay updated on best practices

from different approaches.

3. Resource Intensive:

o Implementing an eclectic approach can be resource-intensive, requiring diverse

materials and activities.

o It may also demand more time and effort in planning and execution.

The eclectic approach in childcare and development leverages the strengths of various

educational philosophies to create a personalized, adaptable, and holistic strategy for nurturing

children. By integrating best practices from multiple methods, it aims to support each child’s

unique journey of growth and learning.