Early Childhood Education Flashcards

Flashcards on Early Childhood Education concepts

Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential

A credential obtained through 120 hours of professional education, 480 hours of work experience, a professional portfolio, an observation with a PD specialist, and an exam.

Advantages of obtaining a CDA

Advance your career, meet job requirements, and potentially access higher wage opportunities.

Career Options in Early Childhood Education

Child life specialist, child care center worker, elementary teacher/specialist, Headstart teacher/director, education coach, entrepreneur, etc.

Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP)

Methods that promote each child's optimal development and learning through a strengths-based, play-based approach to joyful, engaged learning.

NAEYC's view of Developmentally Appropriate Practice

Designed to meet children 'where they are, both as individuals and as part of a group'.

3 Core Considerations of DAP

Commonality in children's development and learning, Individuality reflecting each child's unique characteristics, and Context in which development and learning occur.

Serve and Return

The two-way warm, responsive interaction between the child and the caregiver.

Unoccupied Play

Children are relatively still and their play appears scattered. Allows children to practice manipulating materials, mastering their self-control and learning about the world.

Solitary Play

Children entertain themselves without any other social involvement. They can explore freely, master new personal skills like motor or cognitive skills, and prepare themselves to play with others

Onlooker Play

Children sit back and watch other children playing, but do not join in. Children learn about the social rules of play and relationships; they explore different ways of playing or using materials and they learn about the world.

Parallel Play

Children play next to each other but are not really interacting together. It's like a warm up exercise-children work side by side on the same activity, practicing skills and learning new methods to engage together.

Associative Play

Children begin to be more interested in the other players. They can start to use their newfound social skills to engage with other children or adults during an activity or exploration.

Cooperative Play

Children play cooperatively, adopt group goals, establish rules for play. Cooperation is an advanced skill that children need support to learn.

Active Learning

Being actively involved and engaged in the learning by doing, seeing and thinking; it is hands on and active

Passive Learning

Sitting and listening without interaction with others, the instructor or manipulative objects (ex. puppet show)

Child-directed or Child-initiated Learning

A child decides what to do and the materials to use, the adult supports learning by following their lead.

Teacher directed Learning

A teacher decides what to do and how to do it (i.e. circle time, teaching a new game, teacher directed steps, routines, etc.)

Open-ended questions

Asking questions that require more than a yes or no answer.

Close-ended questions

Questions that require only a 'yes' or 'no' response.

Temperament

How children approach, react to, and relate to the world around them.

Identity

Roles, behaviors, and attributes that we assign ourselves.

Self-esteem

Perception of your own self-worth and value.

Personal power

Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset.

Optimism

The belief that good things will happen to you and negative events are temporary setbacks to overcome.

Resiliency

Ability to withstand, recover from, and adjust to set backs or change.

Active Listening

Adult listens thoughtfully and carefully to a child does not offer solutions, does not criticize. Reflectively recognizes and accepts the child's thoughts and feelings. Repeat back to the child what they are feeling and saying.

Family

A group of people, not necessarily biologically related that share emotional bonds, common values, goals, responsibilities and contribute significantly to each other's well-being.

Caregiver's Role

Talking and listening to the child respectively; Being sensitive to children's feelings; Validating children's efforts, accomplishments, and progress not intellect; Let them know you care about, appreciate, and value them unconditionally.

Prosocial Skills

Compassion, empathy, sympathy, positive interactions, respect and support.

Positive Guidance

Consistent ways of supporting children to identify express and regulate emotions, communicate needs with others, develop deep and trusting relationships.

Discipline

To teach a behavior by instruction and exercise in accordance with rules of conduct. Should be firm, fair, and friendly.

Punishment

A penalty inflicted for wrongdoing, a crime or offense. Physical or verbal attacks. Might teach obedience to authority (out of fear), but not self-control, which enhances self-respect.

Self-discipline

The ability for the child or person to direct their own behavior and not to be directed upon

Positive Statements

Clearly stating what the child IS expected to do instead of TELLING THEM WHAT NOT TO DO.

Redirection

Substituting unacceptable or dangerous behavior for acceptable behavior by helping the child to pay attention to or focus on something else that is equally or more appealing

Reverse Attention

Ignore the negative behavior when possible and reinforce the positive behavior.

Positive Reinforcement

Great motivator and modifies behavior. Acknowledge positive behaviors and effort

Limited Choices

Give children opportunities to make choices within the caregiver's limits.

Time Away/Cool Down Area

An area or time away where a child can calm down.

Observation

Watching children with the clear goal of studying or understanding.

Hard Skills

Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities that can be defined and measured

Soft Skills

Personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.

Soft Skills Needed in the Workplace

Professionalism, Respect legal requirements/expectations, Good communication skills, Resourcefulness & creativity, Work Ethic.