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:

As part of my ECED 120-10F, Child Growth and Development course, in the Spring of 2014, I wrote a
research paper about psychologist Eric Erikson. While constructing this paper I researched Eriksons life. This
included what he experienced as a child and his work as a psychologist. I then used his ideas to reflect on my
own childhood.

Analysis of What I Learned:

As a result of completing this project, I learned how every individual goes through the same eight basic
stages in life, though this does not mean that anyone has the same experiences. I learned that those stages build
on top of each other and if the child does not have good self-confidence from the beginning it is harder for the
child to have this later on in life.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the NAEYC

Standard:
This artifact demonstrates my competence on NAEYC Standard 1, Promoting Child Development and
Learning, by demonstrating my knowledge of the basics of child development. This paper helped me to
understand how different characteristics of each child, as well as whether the childs needs are met, help
influence each childs development. I can use this standard in my classroom to help me make better lesson plans
for my children to help them learn to become more independent and self-reliant. I do this through providing
experiences such as hands on experiments and time to explore safely on their own.