To prepare for this discussion, read Chapters 1 and 3 from your textbook, in addition to the Week One Instructor Guidance. Chapter 3 in Early child development: From theory to practice provides an overview of the main theories relevant to child development. Remember that the topic of child development can be applied to multiple disciplines – from play therapists, to educators, to social workers. Theorists such as Freud, Piaget, Vygotsky, and Erikson, have been studying child development for decades. These notable figures have contributed significantly to the study of child development. Understanding the basic theoretical tenants will deepen your professional knowledge of how young children develop and how that relates to your work with children. By completing this discussion, you will be meeting Weekly Learning Outcome 3.

Initial Post –Reference two scholarly resources in addition to the textbook to support your explanations and evaluations for the prompts that follow:

1. Describe how understanding theories of child development can assist you in your chosen profession. Use specific examples and evidence from the textbook and additional research.
2. Explain the theories that most closely align with your personal philosophy or approach to child development. Use specific examples to illustrate your perspective.
3. In a graphic organizer of your choice, describe the major differences and similarities of each of the leading child development theories discussed in the textbook. Attach your organizer to your initial discussion post. You can use an MS Word table, a graphic organizer from Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers, a mind map (e.g., using Bubble.Us or Coggle), or any other creative software choice that suits your needs for illustrating the comparison.