Product Description

Find solutions and guidance in your classroom today by looking at the theoretical foundations of early childhood care. An intensive look at the ideas of five groundbreaking educational theorists, Theories of Childhood examines the work of John Dewey, Maria Montessori, Erik Erikson, Jean Piaget, and Lev Vygotsky in relation to early childhood. Each theorist's ideas are presented to help teachers and students look to the theoretical foundations of early childhood care for solutions and guidance in classrooms today.

An easy-to-learn overview of the theorist opens each chapter. Author Carol Garhart Mooney then distills their work to reveal how it relates to child care and children. Dewy examines the relationship of curriculum to life; Montessori, the need for carefully prepared classroom environments; Erikson, an approach to making children healthy and comfortable; Piaget, the knowledge of children's thought processes; and Vygotsky, the importance of teachers and peers in learning.

Each point is then examined in detail, including examples and stories of how the theory applies in child care. Discussion questions and a recommended list of resources for further reading close each chapter.

Perfect for undergraduate programs, community college courses, and training workshops, or to help keep your staff aware of the theory behind good child care practice.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84449 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 120 pages

About the Author
Carol Mooney received her M.Ed. from Harvard University. She has worked as a Head Start teacher and community college instructor in Manchester, NH, for over 10 years. Theories of Childhood is her second book.

Customer Reviews

Theory in a nutshell
Its a nice change to be able to read a book and digest the information without then wondering whether you'll ever recall what you read. As a student teacher with a room full of books, i know I can rely on this one book to provide relevant quotes. i even enoy reading it, which is not usual when it comes to books written about theory. Buy this book, it is worth its weight in gold!!

Anyone taking a childcare course should have this book.
Cannot get your head around theorists? Anyone taking a childcare course should have this book, because love them or not you have to deal with them and this book is the best, it covers the essential work of five theorists in a clear straighforward way that is easy to read and understand. I came across this book looking through Amazons selection thought I would try it and have recommended it and used it as a reference many times since.

Why did it take so long?
With many years as a practitioner and now as a trainer I have longed for a book I could recommend to a range of learners which simply outlined significant theories.

Too often the mystery surrounding theory prevents effective learning and knowledgeable adults feel they can never understand the theory.

Carol Garhart Mooney has done us all a favour by producing a clear and concise book, easy to read, intelligently explained and best of all illustrated with up to the minute descriptions of practice linked to theory.

I have shared this book with students on level 2 and 3 programmes, colleagues and other professionals who all agree...

Two more in the pipe line as this is now being added to the course library for our early years programmes.

Dewey, Montessori, Erickson, Piaget and Vygosky provide readers with a fundimental understanding to build on and hopefully the courage to go back and revisit the theorists in their own words.

I do hope she moves on and perhaps looks at Bruner, Bandura, Steiner ............