Developmental Psychology and Early Childhood Education: A Guide for Students and Practitioners

The importance of high quality early childhood education is now universally recognised, and this quality crucially depends upon the practitioners who work with our young children, and their deep understanding of how children develop and learn.

This book's major theme is the fundamental importance of young children developing as independent, self-regulating learners. It illustrates how good practice is based on four key principles which support and encourage this central aspect of development:

secure attachment and emotional warmth

feelings of control and agency

cognitive challenge, adults supporting learning and children learning from one another

articulation about learning, and opportunities for self-expression.

Each chapter includes:

questions which arise in practice

a review of key research

practical exercises

questions for discussion

recommended further reading.

This book provides an invaluable resource for early years students and practitioners, by summarizing new research findings and demonstrating how they can be translated into excellent early years practice.