Reflective Essay
Child Development I (ECE1101)
Assessment 1 (Part B) – Reflective Essay
By: Muna Farah
Student ID: FAR07224027
In this essay I will be discussing my own developing concept of childhood, my opinion of when childhood starts and ends as well as the importance of childhood. I will then discuss specific social and cultural influences that had in helped me to develop my own concept of childhood, than I will be relating my own concept of childhood to Locke and Freud and lastly I will demonstrate ‘critical reflection’ and the understanding that childhood is socially constructed, with concepts of childhood being ‘context bound and value-based’ (McNaughton, 2003).
My concept of childhood has changed greatly over the last couple of months here due to the course of my educational studies. At the beginning, my concept was shaped to a large extent by my own experiences in both kinder and in primary school. For example when I was a child I had learnt quickly the different environment between primary school and home. I guess by learning the difference at that early age, it had taught me that I had two different personas, one when I would be at primary and the other when I would be at home which I had learnt at a later age is normal in life. Although I had two different personas, I did have similarities between the environments which had showed a greater consistency between home and educational environments (VEYLDF – Outcome 3 wellbeing). My own developing concept has been changing my view I have of childhood. I have learnt that children are physically and mentally undeveloped, that they can’t provide for themselves which is why they need care and protection. Children tend to have a lack of self control and be quite impulsive. Their communication may be limited due to not knowing how to express their understandings.
A common question that tends to rise in regards to childhood is when does childhood start and end? I believe that childhood starts chronologically at the
Assessment 1 (Part B) – Reflective Essay
By: Muna Farah
Student ID: FAR07224027
In this essay I will be discussing my own developing concept of childhood, my opinion of when childhood starts and ends as well as the importance of childhood. I will then discuss specific social and cultural influences that had in helped me to develop my own concept of childhood, than I will be relating my own concept of childhood to Locke and Freud and lastly I will demonstrate ‘critical reflection’ and the understanding that childhood is socially constructed, with concepts of childhood being ‘context bound and value-based’ (McNaughton, 2003).
My concept of childhood has changed greatly over the last couple of months here due to the course of my educational studies. At the beginning, my concept was shaped to a large extent by my own experiences in both kinder and in primary school. For example when I was a child I had learnt quickly the different environment between primary school and home. I guess by learning the difference at that early age, it had taught me that I had two different personas, one when I would be at primary and the other when I would be at home which I had learnt at a later age is normal in life. Although I had two different personas, I did have similarities between the environments which had showed a greater consistency between home and educational environments (VEYLDF – Outcome 3 wellbeing). My own developing concept has been changing my view I have of childhood. I have learnt that children are physically and mentally undeveloped, that they can’t provide for themselves which is why they need care and protection. Children tend to have a lack of self control and be quite impulsive. Their communication may be limited due to not knowing how to express their understandings.
A common question that tends to rise in regards to childhood is when does childhood start and end? I believe that childhood starts chronologically at the
References: 1. Gordon,A and Browne, K, 2007, Beginnings and beyond – Foundations in early childhood education, 7th edn, Thomson Delmar Learning, Clifton Park NY.