Theories of Childhood: An Introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget, and Vygotsky

I really liked this book, and I learned a ton from it. This book takes the theories of five different major contributors in the field--John Dewey, Maria Montessori, Erik Erikson, Jean Piaget, and Lev Vygotsky.The book is a short 94 pages of content, and it dedicates one chapter to each of the five educators. I really liked this format, because it gives a great introduction.I learned that all Montessori schools aren't connected, and that Maria Montessori was the one responsible for kids having child-sized tools, and I learned how developing object permanence is connected to kids being distraught when they leave their parents, from Erikson.I also like the examples in the book. Each bad example is balanced by at least one good example, and the author admits where she messed up in the past, which I don't think I've ever seen with an academic. Kudos to you, Carol Mooney.And, the introduction is actually readable. This is usually the sign of a great book. I usually suffer through introductions on books, but this one actually flew by.Pros:+The whole book, including the introduction, is very readable+Excellent overview of some hard-to-compress subjects+Made me think about a lot of stuff, and reconsider my beliefs on some things+Written in conversational, first person, so it's easy to learn and rememberCons:-I didn't like the quote boxes on the sides of the book. I ended up just skipping over them. But they are a good way to get an overview of the whole book in about ten minutes.

Mooney's Theories of Childhood is intended to familiarize or familiarize educators with the primary theorists of childhood development and learning. Included in this work are summaries of concepts developed by Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget, and Vygotsky. While these theories differ in some ways, for example Montessori focused on ways to make the environment more conducive to childhood learning. In contrast, Vygotsky focused on the importance of social interactions and how they promote learning. Regardless of how much these theories differ, the common factor among them is that the types of experiences they have dramatically affect children. While it might seem apparent that this is the case, a cursory observation of some parents and teachers will make clear that many people, once caught up in a situation, fail to keep in mind the significance of each experience in a child's life.Because human development is so complex, each of these theories alone does not seem to adequately explain childhood development and learning. Taken collectively, however, these theories can offer a diverse set of resources from which to draw from to maximize learning potential of the experiences of children. To aid in understanding this, Mooney has included real-world examples of how these principles can be applied. Even though the target audience is professional educators, parents, too, could benefit greatly from reading this concise volume. That being said, the further reading sections at the end of each chapter should be taken advantage of by both parents and educators so as to gain the greatest understanding of childhood development to ensure the children in their care are best served.

Basically an overview of the different styles of the most influential educators in early childhood studies. Even if your class does not require this for reading I would recommend it.I wish I had owned this book when I first started taking Early Childhood Education classes. Trust me when I say that most, if not all teachers will test you on your knowledge of at least; Ericson, Piaget, Vygotsky, and their theories and ideas.In addition to the brief, but effective, overviews for their differing styles, this book also covers some of the history of Dewey, Montessori, Ericson, Piaget, and Vygotsky. Like the reviewer "Susan L." said, the discussion questions at the end of each chapter and suggestion for reading are some of the best things about the book.An example of the discussion questions (posted after the chapter on Maria Montessori:"Last week you had a big cleaning day at the center. The children took their chairs and toys outside and scrubbed them down with soapy water and brushes. Today a dad came in with a complaint that he does not pay tuition for his children to do your cleaning. Basing your response on Montessori ideas about real jobs and responsibility, what would you say?"Overall, an effective introduction and general overview of five selfless leaders and their ideas and understanding of how children learn and grow into their best selves.(I am a male student within one year of completing my Associates Degree for Early Childhood Education with a focus on Challenging Behaviors and Administration. I currently work at a Preschool part time.)

This guide provides a handful of educational theorists, their big ideas, and examples of usage in the classroom. It's a great tool for those going into education.

Simple and easy read. A friend had recommended I buy this book to help me review for a comprehension test in my M.A. in Education: Early Childhood program. I'm glad I bought it. That was a few years ago and I still refer back to this book for quick brush-ups and reminders.This would also be a good book for someone who is not necessarily in school and who just wants to get a quick and simple introduction on important theories and methods in the field of early childhood. The book has large print and is 95 pages long.

This book was great when studying for my Diploma in Childcare and Education - the modules will require a book of this type and detail to get you through! Get reference point and bite-size information on all the relevant theories.

I love this book, I bought it about a year and a half ago (2012) when I was studying Child Care and Education Level 3 in College, and now I'm studying Early Childhood Studies at University and I still use it. I like the practical examples the author gives, it makes it easier to connect with the theory. The book also has a nice silky feel, which makes holding it while referencing more comfortable :) I will most likely buy her other theory book as I really enjoyed reading this one

This book does exactly what it promises. It gives a clear brief introduction to the childhood theories of Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget and Vygotsy and their backgrounds. Mooney's writing style is easy to understand and keeps you interested, no intellectual expert terminology used, just plain English and interesting examples lead you through the theories. At the end I was left as intended by the author - hungry for further reading.

I bought this book for use in my teaching.The theories are clear and concise. Makes it easy to compare and contrast the different theories.Our students find it a great help when writing assignments and case studies.A must for those who are studying early childhood.

I am currently studying for my foundation degree and have found this book very useful. It is easy to read and understand, however it does not go into a great deal of depth. It is great for reading to gain a basic understanding of these theorists before researching them into more depth elsewhere.