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Early childhood theorists

Development in the Formative Years

There are several psychological aspects of the physiological and emotional growth of a baby through adolescence and adulthood. Early childhood theorists contributed their research findings, playing a fundamental role in understanding today's youth, how best to assist them in meeting their age-range milestones, and how to identify the presence of physical or mental disabilities. Such research instituted the beginning of kindergarten in the 1800's to provide fundamental learning experiences. Notable early childhood theorists include Mary Ainsworth, Albert Bandura, Benjamin Bloom, Urie Bromfenbrenner, Robert Coles, Erik Erikson, Sigmund Freud, Arnold Gesell, Harry Harlow, Robert J. Havighurst, Lawrence Kohlberg, Abraham Moslov, Maria Montessori, Jean Piaget, B.F. Skinner, Edward Thorndike, John Dewey, Lev Vygotsky, Johann Pestalozzi, Elizabeth Peabody, Friedrick Froebel, and John Watson. Ranging from mostly educators or psychologists, all had a passion for observing behaviors and reasoning. Those who are heard of most often are the works of Freud, Gesell, Montessori, and Piaget. They researched the connection of psychoanalytical, psychosocial, maturational, cognitive, behavioral, and cognitive-developmental stages with the learning process.

Without the work of the early childhood theorists, infants would fail to thrive, young minds would be afflicted with hopeless aggression, their learning would be hindered from lack of skills to master what they are taught, and they would be helpless in surviving their environments. Schools and the educators within would not be an effective means of turning young minds into positive-thinking and knowledge-seeking adults. Individuals would not be free to express their creativity, and relationships with one another would be strained and repressed.

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