Child Development: Environmentalist Theory

          This theory on the other hand believes that the child’s development depends on his environment.  It is even thought of that human behavior as he grows, is a product of his total reaction to what he sees around him and how people interacts within that environment. In this perspective, families focus on making sure they can provide their kids a good neighborhood, a good school and a good community in general.

          Home being the basic foundation of his development should ensure that the child acquires the basic skill needed as he reaches the stage when young children should have the ability to respond appropriately to the environment at school and the classroom. This evolves from basic motivation of the parents to have their children follow simple adult instructions at home, to a more complicated pre-school learning activities.

          Under this theory, workbooks, regulation setting, and other fun activities that require the child to display positive behavior to an instruction or direction set by an adult. This is of great help in assessing whether the child is able to respond appropriately or displays some form of learning disabilities than can be addressed by some pre-school curriculum designed to control these behaviors and responses.


Ref: http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/students/earlycld/ea7lk18.htm