PSY 210: Child Psychology and Development

The theories of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky have probably had the most influence on our ideas about how young children learn. Although they worked at about the same time, they approached the topic from slightly different perspectives and emphasized different aspects of children's cognitive development.

Does separating boys and girls improve their education? Experts on both sides of the issue weigh in.

Girl Brain, Boy Brain? The two are not the same, but new work shows just how wrong it is to assume that all gender differences are "hardwired".

If you walked into the average public school classroom in the United States, you'd find an equal number of boys and girls. But some experts suggest it may be time for a change.

It turns out that male and female brains differ quite a bit in architecture and activity. Research into these variations could lead to sex-specific treatments for disorders such as depression and schizophrenia.

A world-famous study by researchers Betty Hart and Todd Risley (1995) found that some children heard thirty million fewer words by their 4th birthdays than others. The children who heard more words were better prepared when they entered school. These same kids, when followed into third grade, had bigger vocabularies, were stronger readers, and got higher test scores. The bottom line: the kids who started out ahead, stayed ahead; the kids who started out behind, stayed behind. This disparity in learning is referred to as the achievement gap. We believe those thirty million words are key to closing the achievement gap and giving children the best start in life. That's why we created the Thirty Million Words® Initiative. We want to get the words out!

Since 1956, IRA has been a nonprofit, global network of individuals and institutions committed to worldwide literacy. More than 53,000 members strong, the Association supports literacy professionals through a wide range of resources, advocacy efforts, volunteerism, and professional development activities

Reading Rockets is a national multimedia literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.

This fact sheet from Ohio State University provides parents with information about temperament traits, temperament types, and principles to keep in mind when striving to achieve "goodness of fit".

This Early Childhood News article focuses on temperament, goodness of fit, and accommodating different temperaments.

Jerome Kagan describes his research on infant temperament.

This resource identifies useful Web sites and federal publications on a variety of youth violence topics.

On this site you will find up to date research and pertinent information from a wide variety of sources on developmental approaches to Moral Education. The site emphasizes the work of DBME Scholars but also serves as a source for current work in Moral and Character Education.

UNICEF report on how boys have been left behind on academic achievement

The United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI) is a partnership of organizations committed to narrowing the gender gap in primary and secondary education. It also seeks to ensure that, by 2015, all children complete primary schooling, with girls and boys having equal access to free, quality education.

Lawrence Kohlberg (1958) agreed with Piaget's (1932) theory of moral development in principle but wanted to develop his ideas further.

According to Erikson, the ego develops as it successfully resolves crises that are distinctly social in nature. These involve establishing a sense of trust in others, developing a sense of identity in society, and helping the next generation prepare for the future.

Provides an overview of Bowlby's Attachment Theory.

John Bowlby (1907 - 1990) was a psychoanalyst (like Freud) and believed that mental health and behavioral problems could be attributed to early childhood.

Psychologist Mary Ainsworth (1913 - 1999) provided the most famous body of research offering explanations of individual differences in attachment.

Provides information about the New York Longitudinal Scales and Carey Temperament Scales. Includes a temperament newsletter.