Showing papers in "Early Childhood Education in 2001"

Extending Developmentalism: Cultural Psychology and Early Childhood Education

Abstract: This article argues that the grand theories of child development of the twentieth century are no longer adequate for understanding young children and their development and learning. A cultural perspective on development is presented, with a brief history and a discussion of culture and its defining characteristics. The authors then explore some implications that a cultural psychology provides for research and practice in early childhood education. Three areas receive attention: cross-cultural studies; the relationship between folk psychology and folk pedagogy on the one hand and early childhood curriculum and teacher education on the other; and dialogue between Western and non-Western scholars.

Environmental Factors in Play: Space, Materials, and Time

Abstract: Environmental variables have received scant attention in play research, largely because they have been overshadowed by attention given to play`s role in children`s development. This lack of interest in context variables tends to narrow the range of play inquiry and limit the generalizability of play research findings. For this reason, the purpose of this article is to review of existing research on effects of environmental factors on children`s play behavior. Our review focuses on three key environmental variables: space (amount and arrangement), quantity of play material, and time. As we review the research on each of these important topics, we discuss how teachers can use research findings to provide children with richer classroom play environments and observation and flexibility as a key. Suggestions for future research studies are also provided.

Intergenerational Comparisons of Fathering Practices and Attitudes: A Cross-cultural study

Abstract: Eighty grandfathers and fathers from United States and Korea were interviewed for this study. To identify similarities and differences between grandfathers and their grown sons` child rearing practices and attitudes, four dimensions of fathering behaviors were coded from the Sears Interview Schedule (Sears, Maccoby, & Levin, 1957): nurturance, aggression, parental rules, and discipline. American grandfather-father pairs and Korean grandfather-father pairs revealed similar results. In permissiveness regarding child aggression toward others and in strictness with parental rules, fathers reported behavior similar to their fathers. In father`s nurturance, fathers from both countries showed more enlightened and affectionate behavior than their own fathers. In severity of discipline, American grandfathers reported more severe discipline than their sons did. The findings of this study are discussed in light of modeling theory, compensatory hypothesis, and cohort hypothesis.