A share of findings about John Bowlby's attachment theory

After reading the studies from John Bowlby (1907 - 1990), who is the psychologist, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, the first interest thing that I found out (not relevant to attachment theory) is, John Bowlby died on the year that I was born, which is 1990.

Based on John Bowlby’s experiences with emotionally disturbed children, he had realized about the importance of child’s relationship with their mother relate to their social, emotional and cognitive development.

Even it’s a ‘long time ago’ studies,  but impressively, his studies had benefited the practitioners, parents and most importantly the children.  From the studies and findings from John Bowlby, which is then futher expanded by Mary Ainsworth, 1973, has given us a clear picture and guidance about attachment and how it may influenced a child. John Bowlby stated that “attachment is an emotional bond that occurs between two people and is essential to healthy relationship building (Henniger, M.L., Education.com., 2014).”  

John Bowlby believed that there are four distinguishing characteristics of attachment:

1.Proximity Maintenance 
- The desire to be near the people we are attached to.

2.Safe Haven 
- Returning to the attachment figure for comfort and safety in the face of a fear or threat.

3.Secure Base 
- The attachment figure acts as a base of security from which the child can explore the surrounding environment.

4.Separation Distress 
- Anxiety that occurs in the absence of the attachment figure.

(Cherry, K., 2014) 

Bowlby (1969) also describes that as the infant/toddler builds strong bonding with the caregiver, he or she will be able to gain confidence that allow him/her to explore. An example given in the studies, “a mother and her 1-year-old son go to the park for the afternoon, the strongly attached child will typically remain close for a short time and then move off to briefly explore his new surroundings. This sense of confidence and competence allows young children to learn more about the world around them and continue to grow emotionally and intellectually stronger (Henniger, M.L., Education.com., 2014).”

John Bowlby believed in the importance of forming attachment as a secure base for exploring the world and it can cause severe consequences like reduced intelligence and increased aggression if the attachment’s needs is not being met. He also suggested that children at the age of 0-5 years is in a critical period for developing attachment (McLeod, S.A, 2009). 

         As I reviewed on the attachment theory, I agree with the point that forming attachment as a secure base for exploring the world; as all of us need to have the sense of security in order to build relationship with others and to have further exploration. But critics on the finding that the relationship of the child with father and siblings is not discussed and the consequences of failure to meet the attachment needs of child that causing behavioural problem should put into account the nurturing styles of parents and caregiver. As a conclusion, John Bowlby's efforts put in the studies that had brought out the awareness about the child's attachment needs should be recognised by all practitioners and parents. 

Reference:

Bowlby, J. (1969/1982). Attachment and Loss, Vol. 1: Attachment. New York: Basic Books.

Cherry, K., 2014. John Bowlby - Attachment Theory. [ONLINE] Available at: http://psychology.about.com/od/loveandattraction/ss/attachmentstyle.htm. [Accessed 29 June 2014].

Henniger, M.L., Education.com. 2014. John Bowlby's Perspective on Learning and Development. Education.com. [ONLINE] 

Available at: http://www.education.com/reference/article/john-bowlby-attachment-stages/. [Accessed 29 June 2014].

McLeod, S. A. (2009). Attachment Theory. Available at: http://www.simplypsychology.org/attachment.html

Using ICT in Outdoor with Young Children

How ICT can be used in outdoor activities? 
Explain and discuss how it can be done.

According to Margaret Rouse, ICT (information and communications technology - or technologies) is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning (Rouse, M., 2005).

Many research has linked using of technology with related to decreasing in child's physical activities and causing obesity (Vessey, Yim-Chiplis, & MacKenzie, 1998; Lowry, Wechsler, Galuska, Fulton, & Kann, 2002; Dennison, Russo, Burdick, & Jenkins, 2004)

So, as an educator or parents, how can we use ICT in outdoor activities? 
First of all, educator or parents need to be creative and enjoy outdoor play with children.
Secondly, understand that outdoor play can be risky but with the supervision of adult, risk can be reduce to the minimum.
Last but not least, recognize that outdoor play can be beneficial for all developmental areas of children like socio-emotional, physical and cognitive development.

Hereby, I would like to suggest some of the activities that adult can use ICT in outdoor.

a) For younger children, adults can bring a radio to the outdoor, play music and have children dance  
    with partner according to the music.

b) Pre-capture some plants using a smartphone camera, provide the smartphone to children age 4-6,  
    have them to look at the photos and find out the plants in the garden and take photo with it. In the  
    similar way, adult can ask children to take photos of some animals or insects in the garden, and  
    after that find information for it.

c) Plan an outdoor role play activity after story telling like "Hansel and Gretel", adult can use the  
    tablet or smartphone to video record the role play, or even play some sound effects using computer     
    accordingly. So, after that, adult can play the video for children.

d) Have children to collect some natural elements like twigs, leaves, pebbles and so on, let them form  
    the shapes or objects that they like, then have them to take photo using smartphone and let them to  
    show to their friends and guess what is it.   

e) Let children to take photo of the sky or tree using tablet or smartphone. Later on let children to  
    use the photo editor applications to add and draw things on the sky or tree to create a story.

As a conclusion, ICT has been developed to bring convenience to our lives, we should use it to bring benefits to our loves one and not misuse it to just occupy our children during their free time. 
Hope it helps! Thanks.



References:
Dennison B. A., Russo T. J., Burdick P. A., & Jenkins, P. L. (2004). An intervention to reduce television viewing by preschool children. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 158(2), 170-176.

Lowry, R., Wechsler, H., Galuska, D. A., Fulton, J. E., & Kann, L. (2002). Television viewing and its associations with overweight, sedentary lifestyle, and insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables among us high school students: differences by race, ethnicity, and gender. Journal of School Health, 72(10), 413-421.

Rouse, M. (2005). ICT (information and communications technology - or technologies),Available at: http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/ICT-information-and-communications-technology-or-technologies (Accessed: 12nd June 2014).

Vessey J. A., Yim-Chiplis, P. K., & MacKenzie, N. R. (1998). Effects of television viewing on children’s development. Pediatric Nursing, 24(5), 483-486.

The Role of Adult in Children's Play and Settings

In many research done by the pioneers, play has been proven as an important criteria in children's different developmental area such as, social emotional, cognitive and language.
Whereby, what are the adults role in children play and setting?

First of all, in children's play, adult should act as an facilitator instead of director.
According to Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development in child, with the scaffolding of adult, children can reach to their potential level of development.

Secondly, adult as a supervisor during children's play, supervise children's play as an onlooker.
As safety is always adults concern during children's play no matter for indoor play or outdoor play,
so to keep children under supervision is also the legal requirement.

Third, adult as an observer to observe children's learning through play. As adult observe, they can analyse the observation and use it to plan and improve on children's play setting.

On the other hand, as to minimise the disruption during the children's play,
adults' role in planning the setting before hand for children has to put into consideration.

According to Piaget's stages of development,

• children at the age of 0-2, is in their sensory-motor stage, whereby involve children's learning through the 5 senses.
• Children at the age of 2-7, they are in the pre-operational stage whereby children is developing the ability to combine schemas, which are the ideas established by a child through interaction with the environment.

So, adults should be able to plan settings according to children's needs.

 For indoor,

• allow free play time
• provides multi-sensory apparatus or toys on the mat or table setting
• prepare different theme play box like restaurant, school, and clinic to allow for role play
• create private area for children to have quiet reading time or private talk with friends

For outdoor,

• allow for outdoor natural play
• pre-set outdoor play rules with children
• pre-check the play equipments and make sure it is safe to play
• prepare open-ended play activities like sand pit, water play, and painting.
• gardening area for children to observe their plants

As a conclusion,
we, as an adult, should make sure the safety of the environment for children to explore but do not make the environment risk or challenge free for children. As children explore, they might be being preserve or hurt themselves, but through every experiences they get, they are able to grow to be who they are.