Answer to Question #217757 in English for Thapelo

Question

Evaluate three relevant child development theories and explain the applicability of each one of the teaching and learning mathematics in the foundation phase

Answer 1

Throughout much of human history, child growth from birth to adulthood has been largely disregarded. Children were frequently treated as miniature versions of adults, with little regard for the significant changes in cognitive capacity, language use, and physical growth that occur during childhood and adolescence. The development of a person's thought processes is the subject of cognitive theory. It also considers how these mental processes shape our perceptions of and interactions with the world. Piaget introduced an insight that now seems self-evident, but which revolutionized our understanding of child development: children thought differently than adults. Between the ages of 7 and 11, children get a greater comprehension of mental operations. Children begin to reason logically about concrete experiences but struggle to comprehend abstract or hypothetical concepts. People's ability to think about abstract topics develops between the ages of 12 and maturity. During this stage, skills including logical reasoning, deductive reasoning, and systematic planning emerge.

According to Bowlby's attachment theory, children are born with an inbuilt need to create attachments. Such attachments help the infant survive by ensuring that he or she is cared for and protected. Furthermore, these attachments are marked by distinct behavioral and motivational patterns. Children who receive consistent support and care are more likely to establish a secure attachment style, whereas children who receive less constant care are more likely to develop an ambivalent, avoidant, or disordered attachment style. Both children and caregivers engage in behaviors that keep them close together. Children want to maintain a strong bond with their caretakers, who provide a safe sanctuary and a firm foundation for exploration. As a result, if behaviors are structured to promote proximity, learning becomes simple.

Lev Vygotsky established a seminal learning theory that has since gained a lot of traction, particularly in the realm of education. Vygotsky, like Piaget, felt that children learn best via active participation and hands-on experiences. Learning, according to Vygotsky, is a fundamentally social activity. Learning becomes integrated into an individual's perspective of the world as a result of interactions with others. People can gradually acquire and expand their talents and scope of understanding with the assistance of more informed others.