Exam 1: Historical and Theoretical Viewpoints

When Vygotsky suggested that development takes place within a "zone of proximal development", he meant that

The educator ___________developed the first kindergarten and introduced play into the early childhood education curriculum.

According to the cognitive-developmental theorist_____________, play is the dominance of assimilation over accommodation.

Unlike the English, the French always maintained an appreciation of childhood and an appreciation for children's play.

Lev Vygotsky believed that infant development is largely influenced by ________, while development after the age of two is largely influenced by __________.

Play was discouraged in the lives of Puritan children because

Lev Vygotsky was critical of theorists such as Freud and Piaget because he said they paid too little attention to the social and cultural influences on development.

The philosophy of Naturalism, according to which God makes all things good and human beings corrupt them, was expressed by

Negative attitudes about children, and about the need for them to have special activities, began to surface in Europe during the period known as the ___________.

What is the relationship between play and learning in Jean Piaget's cognitive theory of play? How are they similar? How are they different from one another?

When a child takes new material from the outside world and fits it into his or her intellectual structures, this process is referred to by Jean Piaget as

Unlike play, work is always

The toy making industry did not appear until the early part of the twentieth century.

Describe the five essential characteristics of children's play, in each case illustrating whether work might or might not be described in similar terms.

The American theorist who had the greatest influence on the work of Lev Vygotsky was the Behaviorist John B. Watson.

Beginning in the 20^th century play theorists began to focus on play's ________ benefits.

Why were British visitors to the American colonies surprised by American parent-child relationships?

The philosopher whose views on the nature of children would be the most widely accepted in England and in the American colonies was _________.

Explain the basic ideas of Rousseau's philosophy of Naturalism. What did Rousseau mean when he said that the only education a child should receive during the first twelve years of life should be negative education?

"Childhood has its own way of seeing, thinking, and feeling, and nothing is more foolish than to try to substitute ours for them." This statement comes from the writings of ________________.