Early Childhood Development

The scenarios presented below are similar to those that you will likely encounter as an early childhood educator. Put yourself in the shoes of the early childhood educator and apply your knowledge and skills to navigate through each scenario.

Scenario 2

Characteristics of developmentally appropriate practices can be observed in classrooms. Intentional teachers can utilize this knowledge in planning experiences specifically designed for children of various ages to enhance their development and learning.

Below is a list of some of the characteristics that children display naturally. Imagine that you are teaching a kindergarten class of 5- to 6-year-olds. Develop two learning activities that you could use to further nurture the development of these capabilities. Each experience should integrate at least three of the characteristics listed below. Make sure to describe how each characteristic is incorporated into the activities.

Lead Draw

Create Raise questions

Move Solve problems

Create art Try again

Make a plan Read and make books

Initiate Choose wisely

Speak Decide

Scenario 3

Imagine that you are an early childhood educator who teaches a first-grade class of 6- to 7-year-olds. Develop an activity designed to promote reading and/or writing skills. Provide a description of the activity.

Explain how you would adapt this learning experience to be more appropriate for children with four of the following special needs.

Gifted
Intellectual disability
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Speech delayed
Hearing impairment
Visual impairment
Physical disability
Epilepsy
Asthma

Scenario 4

As an early childhood educator, imagine that you observe each of the situations below. Fill out the chart below, identifying the most likely cause, the most appropriate preventative guidance technique you, as the teacher, could use, the most appropriate solution that promotes positive self-concept and prosocial behaviors, and the reason why you selected each technique and solution.

1. Mealtime Fight. At age 18 months, highly active Jake climbs out of his high chair long before his meal is finished. Exasperated, his teacher makes him sit at the table until he has eaten all of his food. Soon Jake’s behavior escalates into throwing his food on the floor.

2. Temper Tantrum. Three-year-old Connor falls on the floor and kicks and hits his fists on the floor while he yells. The teacher and three other children are sitting at a table nearby working on puzzles. Connor continues this behavior and looks up every minute or so to see the teacher’s reaction.

3. “Mommy, don’t go!” Four-year-old Angela screams “Mommy, don’t go!” when her mother brings her to the center each morning.

4. Bully. Jenny, a first-grader, is large for her age. When she enters the after-school program each day, she goes around the room pushing the other children and taking toys away from them. No one wants to play with her because of the way she acts.

Cause

Guidance Technique

Appropriate Solution

Reason

Mealtime Fight

Temper Tantrum

“Mommy, don’t go!”

Bully