Introduction
In this chapter, we build upon the content of Chapter 7, where we introduced the idea of looking at the development of Australian children. This chapter examines how each of the main theories of child development positions children, families and communities – that is, how each theory describes children, how it discusses (or not) the place of family and communities in conceptualising child development, and how it considers the original contexts in which these well-known theories were developed. In this chapter, you are also introduced to the key thinking of leading Australian scholars, such as Associate Professor Peter Anderson (education specialist) and Professor Karen Martin (early childhood education specialist). Both are pioneers in child development theories for Australian children.
Through engaging with the content of this chapter, it is anticipated that you will:
• think about child development in the context of all families and communities, and the conditions that we as educators create in child-care centres, preschools and primary schools
• become aware of the importance of engaging with, making visible and listening to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the context within which you will be teaching
• critique the theories of child development that continue to inform education in Australia and consider a rights-based approach to, and ways of knowing, ways of being and ways of doing, for driving the theorisation of child development.
To achieve the goals of this chapter, you will critique the theories of development discussed thus far, and the theories put forward in the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). In this chapter and Chapter 9, it is argued that some theories discussed in the EYLF are not child development theories, but rather are valuable tools for critiquing child development.
Learning theories are imposed from the North
In this section of the chapter, you will meet Associate Professor Peter Anderson, as he discusses his views on theories of development in the context of all Australian children. Before you learn about his thinking, let's meet him through his official biography.
Associate Professor Peter Anderson
Associate Professor Peter Anderson grew up in Sydney. His family is from the Northern Territory. His father is a Warlpiri man, originally from Central Australia. His mother is from Daly River (Nauiyu) in the Port Keats area (Wadeye).
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