Child Development and Learning:

Seek Multiple Perspectives

Breadcrumb trail:

Uncover and experience the perspectives of children, families, and colleagues.

When your work is informed by multiple perspectives, you have richer experiences, build stronger relationships, and deepen mutual understandings. Listening to others who have different perspectives can nudge you to reconsider your daily practice and worldview, and recognize and challenge your biases. They can also lead to shared inquiry. Finding areas in which you can collaborate with others is a great way to uncover and experience different perspectives. With CompSAT by your side, you may be inspired to seek the perspectives of the children, families, and colleagues in your program and beyond.

Two teachers discussing issues outside.
  • Explore how consideration of, and collaboration with others impact your understanding of Child Development and Learning.
  • How are the perspectives on planning the environment different or the same between you and the colleagues in your setting?
  • How will understanding children's growth and development influence your ongoing design of their environment?

Try This!

Think of a child whose behavior bothers you. Identify what bothers you, specifically. What does this behavior tap in you? Listen to your innermost feelings.

Practice reframing your view of that child by applying a developmental framework. Use the "Transforming Our Perspective" chart below to assist you. Write down your reflections.

Consider how you will seek the family's perspective on the child's behavior. Make some notes to clarify your thinking.

Transforming Our Perspective With a Focus on Child Development
Deficit Perspective Developmental Perspective
Has no self control Is an energetic explorer and eager learner still learning to self-regulate
Cannot wait for things Is eager to learn from every experience and interaction she has
Cannot share Is in the process of learning what it means to be a human being in relationship with others
Cannot keep her hands off things Is figuring out how to control her behavior and look after herself, others, and the world around her
Has short attention span Is learning more, and at a faster rate, than any adult
Cannot talk well Has mastered nonverbal communication skills, and is learning to verbalize
Has temper tantrums Is moving from dependence to independence

Download the "Transforming Our Perspective" chart.

Use this template to record your observations, thoughts, and feelings.  Download the Template

Deepen Your Understanding

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies

Deepen your understanding of multiple perspectives about development. Review these Topics: Factors that contribute to development and Parent-child history and relationships in Performance Area 1 of the CA ECE Competencies. Scroll to pages 16 and 17.

Can you find other places in this competency area that address your interests and needs?

Download the California ECE Competencies

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies

Extend Your Learning

Take a historical journey by viewing these photos that depict society's view of the child through time.

Young Boy In A White Chemis by Mary Beale (1633–1699).
"Young Boy In A White Chemis" by Mary Beale (1633–1699).
Count Nikolai Sheremetev As A Child by Ivan Argunov (1727–1802).
"Count Nikolai Sheremetev As A Child" by Ivan Argunov (1727–1802).
A Rest By The River by William Affleck (1869–1943).
"A Rest By The River" by William Affleck (1869–1943).
Art Friends by Fanny Brate (1861–1940).
"Art Friends" by Fanny Brate (1861–1940).
Mother And Child by Ferdinand Hodler (1853–1918).
"Mother And Child" by Ferdinand Hodler (1853–1918).
Indian Family Group by M. C. Abercrombie (XIX Century).
"Indian Family Group" by M. C. Abercrombie (XIX Century).
A colorful painting by E. V. Abbott (1899–1980).
A colorful painting by E. V. Abbott (1899–1980).
Let's Pretend by Donna Green (Tea Time Series).
"Let's Pretend" by Donna Green (Tea Time Series).