You Will Respond To One Of The Five Questions Prompts Provid
You Will Respond To1of The 5questionsprompts Provided It Is Expect
You will respond to 1 of the 5 questions/prompts provided. It is expected that you will have raised your child through the MVC online platform to be 10 years, 11 months old prior to completing these reflections. You will use information from this simulation as well as the course (e.g., readings, lectures, discussions) in your responses. It is anticipated that your responses will be between 1-2 pages.
Question Selection: Choose one of the following prompts to address in your reflection:
- Which aspects of your child’s behavior and personality reflect continuities from earlier behavior (e.g., at ages 3-4 years) and which seem to be novel for this age level? How do these new behaviors benefit development for your child?
- How has your child’s temperament and personality allowed him/her to be resilient (or not) during this middle childhood period? Are there particular aspects of your child’s temperament and personality that have made it more difficult for him/her? What are your child’s cognitive abilities?
- How will the environment that you provide to your child influence his/her cognitive abilities? What impact would a different environment have on your child? Discuss in detail the results of your child’s first grade report card (& other academic information provided by the program). List some strengths that your child demonstrates in school/academically as well as any weaknesses. Were you surprised by anything in the report card? If yes, what? If no, what is something that made you feel proud or discouraged?
- How are your child’s regulation abilities? Do you feel regulation is important for your child during this developmental period? If so, how do you promote these abilities as a parent? If not, what are your thoughts on the emphasis placed on these abilities in an academic setting?
- Who does your child play with? What does s/he enjoy doing? Are there gender aspects to this play? Describe some examples of your child’s behavior or thinking that you think are due to typical American gender role socialization and explain why you think so.
- How closely does your attitude toward gender roles correspond to typical attitudes, and if there is a discrepancy, to what do you attribute this (e.g., culture, background, attitudes of your own parents, etc)?
- What is happening for your child physically? What are you noticing about her/his physical abilities/development? What are her/his eating habits? How active is s/he? What does s/he enjoy doing during free time? Do you have any concerns about her/his health? How are you able to support healthy physical development during this time?
Note: You should choose one question prompt from above and respond with an approximately 1,000-word reflective paper, incorporating course materials, observation evidence, and recent psychological reports, formatted with clear, structured paragraphs and appropriate references.
Paper For Above instruction
The selected prompt for this reflection is: Which aspects of your child’s behavior and personality reflect continuities from earlier behavior (e.g., at ages 3-4 years) and which seem to be novel for this age level? How do these new behaviors benefit development for your child?
Throughout the developmental period from early childhood into middle childhood, children tend to exhibit both continuities and changes in behaviors and personality traits. My child's behavior exemplifies this pattern, with several consistent traits persisting from earlier years, as well as new behaviors emerging that support his growth and adaptation within his environment.
One enduring characteristic is his high level of curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, which he exhibited at ages 3 and 4—traits that continue to influence his approach to new challenges in middle childhood. For instance, even now, he eagerly engages in exploring new topics in science and reading, reflecting a persistent cognitive curiosity. Psychologically, this trait aligns with temperament research suggesting that intrinsic motivation and a positive emotional attitude towards learning foster academic success and resilience (Rothbart & Bates, 2006). These continuities contribute positively to his ability to adapt and thrive in school settings.
In contrast, several new behaviors have emerged that are typical for this developmental stage. For example, my child has recently developed a stronger sense of empathy and understands social norms more deeply. He now demonstrates an awareness of others' feelings and is more considerate in peer interactions, which was less pronounced at ages 3-4. This shift appears to support his social competence and emotional regulation, crucial elements for successful peer relationships (Denham et al., 2012). The development of empathy not only enhances his social functioning but also promotes moral reasoning and cooperation, which are vital for fostering academic collaboration and group projects.
Another novel behavior is his increasing ability to plan and organize activities independently. At age 3-4, he relied heavily on adult guidance; now, he can set goals and follow through with tasks, such as completing homework assignments or organizing his belongings. This executive functioning development is linked to maturation of the prefrontal cortex and significantly benefits his academic performance and self-regulation (Diamond, 2013). These new behaviors—planning and independence—are essential skills that lay the foundation for lifelong learning and responsibility.
These behavioral developments underscore the importance of a supportive environment that encourages curiosity, empathy, and autonomy. Such an environment, enriched with resources and positive reinforcement, enhances these emergent skills and supports overall development. Conversely, environments lacking opportunities for social interaction or cognitive challenge could impede the maturation of these capacities, emphasizing the importance of stimulating, nurturing settings for middle childhood development.
In summary, my child's progression reflects both continuities—such as curiosity—and notable novelties—like increased empathy and independent organization—that collectively contribute to his development. These new behaviors foster social competence, emotional regulation, and executive functioning, which are crucial for his transition into adolescence and adulthood. Ongoing support and an enriching environment are pivotal in nurturing these positive traits and skills, ultimately supporting his holistic development.
References
- Diamond, A. (2013). Executive functions. Annual Review of Psychology, 64, 135-168.
- Denham, S. A., Barratt, W., & Deater-Deckard, K. (2012). Social-emotional competence and school readiness. Early Education and Development, 23(4), 512-524.
- Rothbart, M. K., & Bates, J. E. (2006). Temperament. In W. Damon, R. Lerner, & N. Eisenberg (Eds.), Handbook of Child Psychology (6th ed., Vol. 3, pp. 105-176). Wiley.