Assignment:
Nature Versus Nurture Debate
Prior to beginning work on this discussion, watch the video segment Nature Verses Nurture, and read Chapter: History, Theory, and Applied Directions.
The debate concerning the influence of inherited traits and abilities (nature) compared to the influence of environment (nurture) on human development has been argued for decades. For this debate, you must develop a persuasive, research-based argument showing the extent to which your assigned influence affects development. You must use at least two Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources in addition to the course text to support your argument. Remember, you are arguing that either nature or nurture is the most important influence on development. For assistance on how to write an argumentative post, visit the Ashford University Writing Center help page Argumentative Writing. The side you argue is based on your date of birth using the following guidelines:
- If your birthday falls between January and June, you will argue for nature.
You can give a text-based post but feel free to use one of these digital tools:
- Record a video in Canvas. Refer to the following helps guides for assistance: How Do I Record a Video Using the Rich Content Editor as a Student? and the Canvas Video Submission Instructions.
- Make a multimedia poster. Refer to How Glogster Works for more information.
- Create a video or a narrated PowerPoint presentation with Screencast-O-Matic. Please review the Screencast-O-Matic Quick-Start Guide instructions to get started.
Conversation With Families
Parents or caregivers are the most important people in a child's life. Families can be an invaluable source of information about the child, and the educator must understand that families need to know that their knowledge and insights are important. When it comes to making educational decisions about a child, teachers will share important information about the child's development. This conversation may not always be easy, especially if the educator is sharing information that the child is not reaching critical milestones.
To prepare for this discussion,
- Review your course text.
- Read Tips for Childcare Providers to Communicate With Parents Their Concerns About a Child's Development.
- Choose one of your observations from this class (Child Development Observation 1 from or Child Development Observation 2) to use as your guide for this discussion, reflecting on the feedback that was provided by your instructor.
For your initial post, develop a script of what you would say to a family member or caregiver of that child based on your observation, addressing each of the following items:
- Discuss the developmental domain(s) that you felt the child was progressing nicely in. Provide a detailed rationale using examples from the observation (from watching the video).
- Discuss the developmental domain(s) that you have a concern about or feel the child could use more support in. Provide a detailed rationale using examples from the observation (from watching the video).
- Provide the parent or guardian with at least one activity or strategy they can use at home to support their child in the domain(s).
- Wrap up the conversation in a positive way.
Family Interest: Selecting an early childhood environment for a child is an important task for families. Parents and caregivers want to know that their child is safe, nurtured, and learning. There are many resources available for families to review in order to help them decide the right placement for their child. Families may also reach out to other families whose child has been in a specific program. What do you think your families would say about your program? It is not uncommon for families who have done their research to come to a tour of your program with a list of questions. You will want to be ready to answer any questions that come your way in order to help a family make an informed decision about their child's placement.
To prepare for this discussion,
1. Identify the age group you will want to work with in the scenario below, and put this in the subject line.
- Infancy: Birth - 12 months
- Toddler: 1 - 3 years
- Early childhood: 4 years - 8 years
2. Choose and read the corresponding article for your age group from the list below:
- A High-Quality Program for Your Infant
- A High-Quality Program for Your Toddler
- What Do Children Learn in a High-Quality Preschool Program
Scenario: As the main caregiver in an early learning center, you have been contacted by a family who would like to interview you before they decide whether or not your learning environment is the right fit for their child. To help you prepare for the interview, your director has given you a sample interview questionnaire to complete as practice before meeting with the family.
For your initial post,
- Demonstrate your child development knowledge by answering each of the questions in the Is this Learning Environment Right for Us?Preview the document sample interview questionnaire.
- Copy and paste both the questions and your answers into the discussion forum and any other points you would like to include.
Required Resources
Web Pages
Extension. (2015, September). Tips for child care providers to communicate with parents their concerns about a child's development.
This web page provides suggestions on how to communicate concerns about a child's development with families and will assist you in your Conversations with Families discussion.
NAEYC. (n.d.). A high-quality program for your infant.
This web page provides information about what families should look for in a high-quality program for infants and will assist you in your Family Interest discussion.
NAEYC. (n.d.). A high-quality program for your toddler
This web page provides information about what families should look for in a high-quality program for toddlers and will assist you in your Family Interest discussion.
NAEYC. (n.d.). What do children learn in a high quality preschool program?
This web page provides information about what families should look for in a high-quality program for preschoolers and will assist you in your Family Interest discussion.
Recommended Resources
Article
Wardle, F. (2011, March 1). Creating indoor environments for young children
In this article, the author discusses environments for young children that are stimulating, appropriate, and supportive. The author provides ideas on how to set up engaging and appropriate environments to help support a child's development. This information may assist you in your Family Interest discussion.