Question

1. A Cultural Perspective on Child Development

A. How do social responsibility, collaboration, multiple caretaking, attachment, difficult/harsh environments, gender roles, institutions like marriage and inheritance and family structure differ from our culture in some places around the world?

B. How might these affect the classroom when children and families from other countries who join you and other children? How might this affect your planning and/or communication?

C. What is the importance of culture in early childhood development?

Answer 1

A Cultural Perspective on Child Development in India

A. India is a country with multifaceted diversities ranging from the languages spoken in each state, by each community, variations in traditions, religions, cultural practices, types of food etc. Indian philosophy signifies the philosophical traditions of the Indian subcontinent. There are six schools philosophy which are practised and followed in India namely, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mīmāṃsā and Vedanta which are termed as spiritual and Jain, Buddhist, and Cārvāka atheist. Most of the rules are been followed based on these ideologies mentioned in the literature. The chaturveda, Sama, Yajur, Rig and Atharvaveda includes the whole economy, art forms, law, politics, codes and conduct.

These make a huge difference based on the cultures followed in other parts of the World. The Eastern countries have moreover similar culture when compared to the West based on the spiritual leaders they follow, the practices and traditions inherited by them from their ancestors. These traditions even are been scientifically proven to be healthier and beneficial to humankind. Whereas the Western culture is more of modernized lifestyles and easy to adopt pattern of life, even the traditions. Most of Westerners are Christians and they follow a similar kind of tradition all over the world with variations in their cultural perspectives.

B.

Cognitive and social Development in children is a dynamic, complex as well as an interactive process. Children are unique in interacting and relating with the world surrounding them, and what they invoke and receive from others and the social environment influences their thoughts, attitude and behaviour. Children growing up in different cultures receive specific inputs from their environment. There is a vast array of cultural differences in children’s beliefs and behaviour. Language is one of the many ways through which culture affects development. Even though there will be discrepancies and adjustment problems, since children have a great skills and fast learners, they can cooperate and get along with others.

C. Importance of culture in early childhood development:

Children with early exposure affects the way c attend to themselves or to their relationship with others – forming their self image and identity.