Assignment 3

1. We had to switch to a toddler daycare center where the ratio of caregivers to students is now 5-to-1 when it used to be 3-to-1. She has to play more with other children and is learning to be more independent. Ryann has had some negative experiences like falling off a swing in the park and falling into the pool at a friend’s house. She is now afraid of swings and climbing gyms, as well as pools. My niece is staying with us while she raises money for school and she and Ryann have become best friends. My niece plays the guitar so Ryann is learning to love singing even more. Also, my partner has decided to spend more time with Ryann by taking her to the zoo, museums, the park, and other inexpensive activities. I think that Ryann has really great motor skills because we encourage her to be so active, and she is also become more independent and friendly with others because of her experiences.

2. She’s very concerned with pleasing me and following the rules but sometimes she needs guidance, like step-by-step instructions on how to do something. We are sticking to a regular routine so she won’t need as much help with remembering the steps of that routine, and I will also ask her what’s coming next in our routine in order to help her learn it quicker. She cooperates with other children and only gets aggressive over a favorite toy for a short while; after she is reminded to share everything gets better. She prefers playing with girls, but gets along with boys as well. Overall she’s progressing well on typical toddler issues. I’m still worried about her language so we’re still going to work on that.

3. One of the theories we have relied on has been Vygotsky’s Socioculture Theory. My partner and I have been taking Ryann to the zoo and parks. When she comes home we make sure to ask her about her favorite things. This will also help her with her language and communication skills. The Social Learning Theory is another theory we have thought about. My partner and I always make sure to encourage Ryann when she is having trouble doing something, and we praise her when she is finished. We make sure not to have fights in front of her or talk harshly to her. This has helped as she is not an aggressive child. Having Ryann’s cousin around is a very positive influence on her as well. They spend a lot of time together and Ryann often mimics her when she dances, sings, and plays the guitar. We have done the object permanence test and Piaget proved right when he said that babies think the object is no longer in existence when it is out of sight. Ryann has been moving forward in Piaget’s stages. The last time we did the test, when she was a toddler, she understood that the object was still in existence.