Contemporary Perspectives on Socialization and Social Development in Early Childhood Education

The purpose of this volume is to present a selection of chapters that reflect current issues relating to children's socialization processes that help them become successful members of their society. From birth children are unique in their rates of growth and development, including the development of their social awareness and their ability to interact socially. They interpret social events based on their developing life style and environmental experiences. The children's socialization is influenced by several important social forces including the family and its organization, their peer group, and the significant others in their lives. In "Theories of Socialization and Social Development," Olivia Saracho and Bernard Spodek describe the children's socialization forces and the different developmental theories that have influenced our understanding of the socialization process. These include maturationist theory (developed by Arnold Gesell), constructivist theories (developed by such theorists as Jean Piaget, Lev S. Vygotsky, and Jerome Bruner), psychodynamic theories (developed by such theorists as Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, Harry Stack Sullivan, and Alfred Adler), and ecological theory (developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner). Each theory provides interpretations of the meaning of the children's social development and describes the different characteristics for each age group in the developmental sequences.

Bernard Spodek is Professor Emeritus of Early Childhood Education at the University of Illinois.  He began in 1952 as an early childhood teacher in the New York City area.  He received his doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University. His research and scholarly interests are in the areas of curriculum, teaching, and teacher education in early childhood education. He was President of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (1976-78) and is currently President of the Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association. Spodek was co-editor with Olivia N. Saracho of the "Yearbook in Early Childhood Education" Series (Teachers College Press). They are currently co-editors of the "Contemporary Perspectives in Early Childhood Education" Series (Information Age Publishers).Olivia N. Saracho is Professor of Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Maryland. Her areas of scholarship include family literacy, cognitive style, teaching, and teacher education in early childhood education.  Dr. Saracho was co-editor of the "Yearbook in Early Childhood Education" Series (Teachers College Press). Currently she is co-editor of the "Contemporary Perspectives in Early Childhood Education" Series (Information Age Publishers). Dr. Saracho's most recent books are "Contemporary Perspectives on Play in Early Childhood Education," "Studying Teachers in Early Childhood Settings, "and "Contemporary Perspectives on Language Policy and Literary Instruction in Early Childhood Education," co-edited with Bernard Spodek (Information Age Publishers).