Select one children’s growth and development theory from the choices below:
John Bowlby’s Attachment theory
Piaget Constructivist theory
Vygotsky’s Sociocultural theory
Erikson’s theory of Psychosocial Development
Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory of Development
Outline the theorist’s perspective on children’s growth and development from birth to 5 years of age.
Describe at least 3 parenting techniques from birth to 5 years of age that are supportive of the theorist’s perspective on fostering a child’s development
Sample Answer
John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory (Birth to 5 Years)
John Bowlby (1907-1990) proposed that the tendency to form strong emotional bonds—or attachments—to primary caregivers is innate and evolutionary. This bond serves a survival function, ensuring the infant remains close to a protective figure. The period from birth to 5 years is the critical phase during which these fundamental, long-lasting emotional and behavioral patterns are established.
Bowlby’s Perspective on Growth and Development (Birth to 5 Years)
Bowlby outlined development during this age range through four overlapping phases, which center on establishing a stable Internal Working Model (IWM):
1. Phase 1: Pre-Attachment (Birth to 6 Weeks)
Focus: The infant exhibits innate signaling behaviors (crying, grasping, smiling) that attract the caregiver’s attention. These signals are not yet directed toward a specific person; the baby accepts comfort from anyone.
Developmental Task: To learn that their signals elicit a response and to begin building a sense of security that their needs will be met.
Phase 2: Attachment-in-the-Making (6 Weeks to 6–8 Months)
Focus: The infant begins to direct their attachment behaviors toward the primary caregiver(s). They recognize the caregiver and respond more positively to them, showing signs of preference. They do not yet protest when the caregiver leaves.
Developmental Task: To begin developing trust based on the caregiver’s consistent, predictable responsiveness.
3. Phase 3: Clear-Cut Attachment (6–8 Months to 18 Months–2 Years)
Focus: Separation anxiety and stranger anxiety fully emerge. The child actively seeks proximity to the caregiver and protests vigorously upon separation. The caregiver serves as a secure base from which the child explores the environment, and a safe haven to which they return when distressed.
Developmental Task: This is the peak period for forming the definitive Attachment Style (Secure, Avoidant, or Ambivalent/Resistant), which sets the stage for future emotional relationships.
4. Phase 4: Goal-Corrected Partnership (2 Years and Beyond)
Focus: The child's language and cognitive skills allow them to understand the caregiver's perspectives and motivations. The child can now negotiate and try to influence the caregiver’s plans, forming a "goal-corrected partnership." For instance, a 4-year-old may agree to stay with a sitter after being reminded that the parent will be home after dinner.
Developmental Task: To integrate the consistent care received into a stable Internal Working Model (IWM)—a mental framework that guides their expectations for all future relationships, self-worth, and emotional regulation. A securely attached child expects relationships to be trustworthy and views themselves as worthy of love and support.