Developmental Psychology and Expressive Arts Essay

An explanation of each of the areas of learning and development and how these are interdependent. There are 7 areas of development in the learning and development for children as described in development matters in the early years foundation stage 2012 DFE Cheshire. There are 3 prime areas of development and 4 specific areas of development. The prime areas area personal, social and emotional development, physical development and communication and language development. The specific areas are literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts and design. Personal, social and emotional development: The areas of personal, social and emotional development is about how a child makes relationships, has self-confidence and self-awareness and manages behaviour. For example, a child of 26 months will demonstrate to their parents that they can be independent and they could show this by saying ‘no’ if they don’t want to do anything. Physical development: Physical development is about how children can move around and handle things by themselves and health and self-care. For example, a child who is 10 months will pull themselves up to help them stand and they will hold onto someone they know or a piece of furniture for support. Communication and language: Communication and language is about how a child can listen and pay attention, to understand others and be able to speak. For example, a child who is 5 months will make their own sounds in response when someone who is familiar is talking to them. Literacy: Literacy is about a child who is learning to read and learning to write. For example, a child who is 16 months will be interested in books and rhymes and could also have a favourite. Also the could draw/write with their finger in the sand. Mathematics: Mathematics is about children learning about numbers, shapes, space and measures. For example, a child who is 40 months could be able to separate a group of 3 or 4 objects indifferent ways, and begins to recognise that the total is still the same. Understanding the world: Understanding the world is about how children see people and communities, how they see the world and technology. For example, a child who is 30 months could ask a question or comment on the aspects of the world, such as where they live or where a different family member lives. They might ask why they live in different places then them. Expressive arts and design: Expressive arts and design is about exploring and using media and materials, and being imaginative. For example, a child who is 60 months will be able to understand different media and combine them to make a new effect. These 7 areas of learning and development are all interdependent. An activity that shows this is playing play dough and basing this activity on the book postman pat. Personal, social and emotional links into this activity because they are all talking to you and each other about what they are doing with the play dough. This is interdependent with communication and language because they are speaking to each other while they are doing the activity. Communication and language is interdependent with physical because when they are making play dough people to do with postman pat they are using their fine motor skills to hold the cutter and rollers properly. Physical is interdependent with maths because when the children make the people, they can count how many people of objects they have made. Also they can be making different shapes which will help them learn. Maths is interdependent with literacy because they could make their names out of the play dough with the cutters and there could be some alphabetical letters they can also use. Literacy is interdependent with understanding the world because they will be using their senses and their knowledge to understand the book and be able to complete the play dough. Understanding the world is interdependent with expressive arts and design because using play dough is a type of media so they will gain skills. This is also helping the children learn more effectively and to be more creative. Early learning goals: Each aspect of the areas of learning and development have early learning goals. Most children will achieve most of these by 60 months. The outcomes have been reduced in the EYFS 2012. ‘Children play co-operatively, taking turns with others. They take account of one another’s ideas about how to organise their activity. They show sensitivity to others needs and feelings; and form positive relationships with adults and other children. This is from the personal, social and emotional: making relationships ELG 40-60+ months. For example, if a child was playing with lots of toys and another child was sitting alone with nothing to do, the child would share their toys with them so they become happy. This will help for them to build a relationship and become better friends.