Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact

Rationale/Reflection
NAEYC Standard:
STANDARD 1. PROMOTING CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING
Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs are grounded in a child development knowledge base.
They use their understanding of young childrens characteristics and needs, and of multiple interacting
influences on childrens development and learning, to create environments that are healthy, respectful,
supportive, and challenging for each child. (NAEYC, 2010)

Brief Description of Evidence:

During my ECED 120 Child Growth and Development class during the fall semester of 2014, I learned about a
theorist named Erik Erikson. Through investigation Eric Erickson had created eight development stages from
birth to death. After learning about the eight stages, I had to reflect on what I had learned about his theory, and
apply the knowledge to personally reflect on each stage, and describe my views on all of the stages and I had
experienced and will experience.

Analysis of What I Learned:

After completion of the Erikson Project, I now have a very good comprehension of what children experience in
all different stages of their life. I am more capable of understanding why a childs learning growth is
determined by their environment that may be affecting them. I now understand the value of a childs
characteristics and needs as I work to create a supportive and strong environment for the children to learn and
develop appropriately. I understand through the Erikson project how to help determine some of the stages in a
childs life and how to create a supportive to a positive atmosphere.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the NAEYC

Standard:
This artifact demonstrates my competence of standard 1, promoting and development of learning. I have the
knowledge to recognize the characteristics and needs of specific children, through interrupting the stage of the
child and how the childs environment has an overall effect on the child. I have knowledge to create the
appropriate guidelines and respect, as well as use supportive developmental strategies for the child. I will build
off of materials that are instilled in the childs learning and development. I understand the value on how to meet
the needs and recognize all of the multiple influences that children have in their lives that could affect their
development such as culture, poverty and sibling size. I have the knowledge to provide my classroom with
information based on the beliefs of the families, and I will create a small group demonstration of learning for the
children. I will be responsible for making available nutrition for the children. I have the understanding that a
childs development is based on the certain step a child is in and that I have knowledge to help make sure that
the children is not affected destructively. Through research of Erik Eriksons life stage theory, I now have a
healthier understanding on how to creating a challenging environment by age appropriate activities, based on
the children developmentally state that will allow the children to experience lifes stages, and provide the child
with support to help form a self-reliant experience.