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How Children Learn (Early Learning and Teaching)

solitary play or parallel play i.e. play by the side of another child, are used to
one-to one interaction with parent are given and are not yet capable of pro-social
behaviour like cooperation, sharing and helping.
Notes
A major objective of the ECCE centre is to help children progress from ego-
centric towards socio-centrism i.e. towards playing with others, helping others
and generally getting socialized. The ECCE centre needs to provide a trust worthy
and secure environment so that children adjust to the activities of the centre,
develop good habits, maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness, develop proper
eating habits, use the toilet correctly, wash hands before and after meals, puts
away objects after playing and keep the environment clean.
It also includes developing positive self-concept, social manners like sharing and
cooperating with others, respecting others’ rights and property, waiting for one’s
turn, independence and leadership, cooperating with teachers and other adults,
etc.

Therefore, the most important needs of children that the ECCE centre must address
are the need for security and acceptance. When children come to the centre, they
leave home for the first time and the challenge is to adjust to the new environment.
The centre/preschool must provide the kind of environment that will help them in
this adjustment.

There are also wide individual differences in behaviour, characteristics and abilities
of children. Each child has a unique personality. Emotional development provides
base for social development. Opportunities for children must be provided through
creative drama, role play, music and movement and creative activities to express
emotions.

Children often develop behavioural disorders, for example, unusually aggressive
behaviour, withdrawn or unusually shy behaviour, undue anxiety, hyperactivity,
regression (i.e. going back to earlier infantile forms of behaviour, for example
bed-wetting and nail biting).An understanding of the problem by parents and
teachers and a reassuring attitude to help children overcome the anxieties and
fears will enable them to get over these behavioral disorders. Punishment is not
desirable since it only adds to the humiliation and anxiety.

During early childhood years, the concept of gender also develops among children.
Sex-role stereotypes are also formed around this stage. The teacher and other
adults including parents should not encourage differences in expected
behaviours from boys and girls. They should treat all children alike and not have
favourities. In achieving all this smoothly, the teacher needs to be familar with the
home environment of every child in the class by maintaining regular contact with
the parents. This calls for quality partnership between teachers, parents and other
caregivers.

EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION 73