Question

1. What is identity development? What is sex role identity? What is ethnic identity? In each post, give a definition of one of these in your own words, and then given an example; explain why your explanation fits your definition.
2. How does the child begin to acquire these skills, knowledge and understandings: identity, moral understanding, self regulation, empathy & sympathy. In each post, explain how the child develop develops in one of these, and give an example.
3. Are there common threads that cut across development in these areas (identity, moral understanding, self regulation, empathy & sympathy). If you think so, explain one of these threads in your post. If you don’t think so, explain why not.
4. What is the role of PLAY in each of these areas (identity, moral understanding, self regulation, empathy & sympathy)? Give examples of the role of play.
5. What are five ways that adults support children’s social and emotional development during the early childhood years (2-6)? List one and explain why it is important. You may elaborate on someone else’s answer if five have been mentioned and you cannot think of a sixth.
6. In each post, address one of these questions: What is meant by the statement “personality formation and socialization are in constant tension”? What is the difference between heteronomous and autonomous morality? Why are these concepts important for teachers and parents to understand?
   

Answer 1

Gender identity refers to the sex that an individual is born in; male, female or transgender. Sexual expression refers to what a person truly feels. In the conventional society we live in, an individual whose gender identity is male from birth, but feels very feminine from within, cannot express themselves being sexually interested in other men. Gender identity refers to one sticking to their conventional roots in terms of sexual expression. A man may not necessarily fall in love with a woman or vice versa. Gender identity tends to contribute to sexual expression where one is expected to be attracted to opposite gender. However, this may not always be true. A man can be attracted to another man and woman to another woman. Gender identity has little to do with sexual expression.

Gender stereotype is etched in the minds of young children. One of the major stereotypes is, boys wearing blue and girls wearing pink. Blue denotes masculinity and pink denotes feminity.

Empathy can be defined as the ability to be able to be in someone else's shoes. It is a skill that most toddlers find hard to learn. However, parents can certainly teach their toddlers to be able to care for another person by being kind and considerate. The child must understand that others have different thoughts and feelings which are not the same as theirs. Parents can teach their toddler to be empathetic towards others by firstly making their child feel secure and loved. Acceptance is the key. If a parent makes their child understood and accepted, the possibility of the child understanding others, doubles.

Children are keen observers. Children tend to imitate behaviour that a parent exhibits. For instance, if there is a visitor at home, the child is going to note and observe the way the visitor has been greeted. The toddler is most likely to feel safe and secure around the person which increases his ability to be kind to others.

Parents must try to make their toddlers aware of their peers feelings. If a friend at school is sad about having to say goodbye to his parents, the child must be encouraged to be kind towards his friend in actions like offering his favorite teddy or a toy. Also, parents must empathize with their child so that they learn to be empathetic towards others.