childhood upbringing essay

Childhood Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on childhood.

Childhood is the most fun and memorable time in anyone’s life. It’s the first stage of life which we enjoy in whatever way we like. Besides, this is the time that shapes up the future. The parents love and care for their children and the children to the same too. Moreover, it’s the golden period of life in which we can teach children everything.

Memories of Childhood

The memories of childhood ultimately become the life long memory which always brings a smile on our faces. Only the grownups know the real value of childhood because the children do not understand these things.

Moreover, Children’s have no worries, no stress, and they are free from the filth of worldly life. Also, when an individual collects memories of his/her childhood they give a delighted feeling.

Besides, bad memories haunt the person his entire life. Apart from this, as we grow we feel more attachment to our childhood and we want to get back those days but we can’t. That’s why many people say ‘time is neither a friend nor a foe’. Because the time which is gone can’t come back and neither do our childhood. It is a time which many poets and writer praises in their creations.

Importance of Childhood

For children, it has no importance but if you ask an adult it is very important. Moreover, it a time when the moral and social character of the children develop. In this stage of life, we can easily remodel the mindset of someone.

Also, it is very important to understand that the mindset of children can be easily altered in this time. So, we have to keep a close eye on our children.

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What Should You Do in Childhood?

In childhood, one should need to enjoy his/her life without any worry. It is a time in which one should have to take care of his diet, his health, and immunity. Besides, the children should be taught to be neat and clean, to eat, read, sleep, play, and to do exercise regularly and these things should be in the habits of the child.

Moreover, we should try to influence children to start productive habits such as reading, writing that should help them in later life. But the books they read and what they write should be carefully checked by the parents.

Care for Everyone

Children are like buds, they care for everyone equally without any discrimination. Also, they are of helpful nature and help everyone around them.

Moreover, they teach everyone the lesson of humanity that they have forgotten in this hectic lifestyle of this world. Besides, these children are the future of the country and if they do not grow properly then in future how can they help in the growth of the nation .

In conclusion, we can say that childhood is the time that makes our adulthood special. Also, children’s are like pottery vessels whom you can shape in any way you like. Besides, this their innocence and helpful nature gives everyone the message of humanity.

Most importantly, they learn by either making mistakes or seeing their elders.

FAQs about Childhood

Q.1 Why childhood is the best period of life? A.1 It is the best time of life because the memories that we make in our childhood always brings a smile on our face. Also, it is the time when the character of the child is shaped. Besides, it also is the best time to understand life and gain knowledge.

Q.2 What is the most important characteristics of a child? A.2 According to me, the most important characteristics of a child is his innocence and helpful nature.

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323 Childhood Essay Examples & Topics to Write About

Are you looking for childhood essay examples? Here, you’ll find lots of free sample papers on various childhood topics, such as childhood trauma, memories, obesity, child development, and many others! Whether you need to find an idea for school or for college, this list will provide you with a perfect topic about childhood for your assignment.

🏆 Best Childhood Essay Examples

🔎 easy childhood research paper topics, 👍 good childhood topics to write about, 🌶️ hot topics about childhood, 🎓 most interesting childhood topics to research, 💡 simple childhood topics, ✍️ childhood essay topics for college, ❓ questions about childhood, 💭 childhood memory essay topics, 📚 children’s book topics to write about, 😢 childhood trauma research topics.

• The Developmental Tasks of Early Childhood
• Childhood Obesity: Causes and Effects
• The Recruitment Process for the Early Childhood Centre
• Bilingual Programs in Early Childhood Education
• Childhood Development Case Study
• Childhood Obesity: The Parents’ Responsibility
• Leadership and Management in Early Childhood Education
• The Effects of Early Childhood Education on Cognitive Development Child development is a complex subject that encompasses a wide range of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes that occur during the first two decades of life.
• Childhood Obesity: Causes and Solutions The report will highlight the issue of obesity among children in the United States. It will focus on causes, impacts and possible solutions to the obesity problem.
• Childhood: The Concept of Social Construction The integration of children into the society is characterized by socio-cultural conditioning processes that mould the child to fit his/her expected role within the community.
• Social-Emotional Development in Early Childhood The emotional development of young children is an essential aspect of education because preschoolers who are not capable of the usual expression of their emotions are more depressed.
• A Defining Event From My Childhood: Personal Experiences This paper aims to present a defining event from childhood from personal experience and discuss how it impacts an adult’s personality and character.
• The Early Childhood Education Early childhood is faced with challenges most of which affect the education of child. Some of them include high attrition rate of teachers, poverty, discrimination due to race.
• Early Childhood Educators’ Roles and Responsibilities The relationship between early childhood educators and toddlers impacts the future success of pre-primary learners in various stages.
• Analysis of Childhood and Adolescent Development The study of child and adolescent development can help in a variety of ways. This includes understanding the health and subsequent development of appropriate programs to cater to their health.
• Management Plan For an Early Childhood Early childhood education is a very important segment of learning. It is important to design a good and effective management plan to implement the early childhood curriculum.
• Mental Disorders in Infancy, Childhood, Adolescence This paper is going to provide an overview of some of the most commonly encountered mental disorders diagnosed in infants, children, and adolescents.
• Adverse Childhood Experiences as a Remote and Proximal Mitigation Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been considered both remote and proximal mitigation due to various aspects.
• Atypical Language Development in Early Childhood Speech and language delay with an early onset is characterized by increased difficulties with reading, writing, focus, and communication.
• Effective Early Childhood Managers and Their Traits Early childhood educators aim to instill good moral values in learners to ensure that they develop as well-rounded and kind individuals.
• Early Childhood Education: The Role of Leader Educational leadership is constantly being developed and maintained in the culture of the early childhood education environment.
• Professional Boundaries in Early Childhood Education The boundaries between early childhood educators and the child’s family can be blurred. The article examines the importance of boundaries in early childhood settings.
• Learning Models in Early Childhood Education The search for the perfect learning model has been continuing ever since the traditional adult-run approach was first doubted.
• Childhood Obesity Study and Health Belief Model A field experiment will be used in the research to identify the impact of a healthy lifestyle intervention on children diagnosed with obesity.
• Childhood Obesity and Health Promotion Today, childhood obesity is one of the critical health concerns. Being an important factor impacting the future of the nation, children`s health should be cultivated.
• Vygotsky’s & Erikson’s Childhood Development Theories The main focus of Vygotsky’s theory is the belief that learning has a crucial role in the development of children.
• Indoor Environment: Role of Family in Early Childhood Development Parents and children are to work together at home. Parents and children can get along very well and can assist their children by guiding and spending time with them.
• Childhood Affecting Adulthood: John Wayne Gacy The kind of childhood that a person is subjected to determines the kind of person they become as adults,in the case of Gacy,he became a serial rapist and killer.
• Borderline Personality Disorder and Childhood Sexual Abuse This paper examines different research studies to demonstrate a causal or high-risk factor in child victims of sexual abuse to develop Borderline Personality Disorder in adulthood.
• Personality: Early Childhood Development’ Effects Personality has been defined as a set of psychological characteristics that differentiate one person from another. Personality starts developing soon after birth and continues throughout life.
• Health and Safety Training for Early Childhood Educators Nutrition, health, and safety training are significant for early childhood educators. They have a great impact on the child since a child is highly receptive at an early age.
• Middle Childhood: The Impact of Television This paper evaluates the impact of watching television on cognitive, physical, and psychosocial development during middle childhood.
• Childhood and Education: Childhood Concepts and the Impact of the Education System on Children’s Experience This paper looks into these concepts from both the historical and cross-cultural perspective and looks into the educational systems in the UK and how they shape childhood experiences.
• Servant Leadership in Early Childhood Education The purpose of this report revolves around reviewing servant leadership as it pertains to early childhood education.
• Rites of Passage: From Childhood to Adulthood This paper hypothesizes that the Rites of Passage carried throughout the centuries teach a child essential elements of life such as assuming responsibility, and self-confidence.
• Childhood Obesity: Quantitative Annotated Bibliography Childhood obesity is a problem that stands especially acute today, in the era of consumerism. Children now have immense access to the Internet.
• Childhood Obesity and Nutrition The prevalence of childhood obesity in schools can be compared to an epidemic of a virulent disease on a global scale.
• Effective Interaction in Early Childhood Education Early childhood education institutions should act as agents of psychological and social support, not only for children but also for their parents.
• Childhood Obesity: Prevention and Mitigation Over the past three decades, childhood obesity has developed into an epidemic and is considered as one of the major health issues in the world.
• Digital Technology Is Changing Childhood There is a clear trend towards increased digital technology use in minors. In recent decades everyone has grown attached to their smart device, younger generations in particular.
• Authentic Leadership in Early Childhood Teaching The context of early childhood education (ECE) has been challenged by the fact that many leaders within the sphere have been unlikely to engage in formal leadership preparation.
• Early Childhood Swimming Education and Methods The American Association of Pediatrics states that babies and toddlers should not take swimming lessons with a teacher; their skills are not good enough to learn.
• Reading Interventions and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood Education Reading entails the use of touch or sight to take in symbols, signs, or letters and derive meaning from the signs and symbols.
• Linguistic Diversity in Early Childhood Education Linguistic diversity in early childhood education is a very important question, which requires amendment and further development.
• Physical Development During Middle Childhood The problem of physical development during middle childhood and the role of school and family environment in this development will be discussed in this paper.
• Childhood Obesity and Socio-Ecological Model Childhood obesity can be significantly reduced through a public health intervention grounded in the socio-ecological model.
• Early Childhood Education Programs The High Scope education model can be discussed as successful in promoting enhancing children’s intellectual and social abilities in order to help them to adapt to the real world.
• Development: Middle Childhood All children have a unique childhood and development, and it may not go according to the traditional ideas of how the child is supposed to grow and behave.
• Childhood Obesity: Causes and Effects Childhood obesity has many causes and effects, which denotes that parents and teachers should make children with obesity engage in regular physical exercise in school and at home.
• Early Childhood Trauma and Treatment The literature and research findings discuss early childhood susceptibility to trauma, symptoms, diagnostic of early childhood trauma, and treatment approaches for youngsters.
• A Lot of Impact by Leadership Style on Early Childhood Leadership is fundamental in early childhood, and it determines the principles that will be undertaken by the children when they grow up.
• Childhood Concept and Its Visual Analysis Childhood is a crucial stage in the development of every individual. The existing visual culture reflects some important elements of the concept of childhood.
• Childhood Obesity and Public Policies in England The study identifies the preventive measures of the English government to deal with childhood obesity and compares the trends in England with the rest of the UK.
• Childhood Psychological Trauma: Rape The paper discusses rape as one of the childhood psychological traumas: its categories, consequences, Rape Trauma Syndrome and its stages.
• Childhood Trauma and Crisis Intervention One of the causes of post-traumatic disorder in children may be sexual abuse. This may lead to the transcrisis state.
• An Artifact of Childhood Activity The paper begins with a description of how the artifact was constructed and continues with the explanation of the various elements of the artifact as it relates to childhood in 2009.
• Childhood Obesity Prevention: The Role of Nursing Education Nurse practitioners have to deal with childhood obesity challenges and identity healthy physical and environmental factors to help pediatric patients and their parents.
• Childhood Obesity: Methods and Data Collection The first instrument that will be used in data collection is body mass index (BMI). The BMI is measured by dividing a patient’s weight in kilograms by height in meters squared.
• Childhood Obesity Prevention: Physical Education and Nutrition The paper examines how physical education in schools can prevent child obesity and how to educate parents about the importance of proper nutrition.
• Language Developmental Curriculum for Early Childhood Education Several methods can be applied to assist a child in developing a language. One of them is use of books to let the child learn language and communication.
• Childhood Development from Biological Perspective Teratogens are chemicals that can cause physical or functional abnormalities in a human embryo or fetus that is exposed to a pregnant mother.
• Anti-Bias Curriculum in Early Childhood Classroom The anti-bias curriculum should teach diversity as any solution designed to raise awareness, attitudes, knowledge, and cultural diversity skills.
• Te Whariki Childhood Curriculum: Early Childhood Education Early childhood education institution being the pool of all job market resources can definitely not be ignored.
• Childhood Obesity: Research Methodology Based on their body mass index measurement or diagnosis by a qualified physician, all children in the sample should be qualified as having obesity.
• Childhood Vaccination: Ethical Case Study The problem of moral behavior of nurses in situations of a difficult choice, decision-making, or conflict is actively discussed in the scholarly medical literature.
• Difficult Childhood and Personal Development Mainstream research has shown that early socioeconomic status plays a huge role in shaping the future performance of individuals.
• Childhood Obesity and Public Health Intervention Childhood obesity can be significantly reduced through a public health intervention grounded in the socio-ecological model, in particular, parents’ active participation.
• School-Age Children’ and Early Childhood’ Differences School-age children and children in early childhood exhibit various differences with regard to cognitive, physical and socioemotional development.
• Nutrition: Fighting the Childhood Obesity Epidemic Childhood obesity is defined variably as the condition of excessive body fat in children that adversely his/her health. It has been cited as a serious health concern issue in many countries.
• Self-Control in Early Childhood The self-control concept in children is the ability to express and cope with deep emotions correctly. The ability to sustain the concept of self-control remains relatively stable.
• Early Childhood Profession in Australia Despite the major strengths of the early childhood profession in Australia, it can be improved by introducing novel ways to fund community-based early childhood education services.
• The Early Childhood Profession in Australia The current state of the early childhood profession in Australia is well-designed for the learners themselves, but it contains major flaws in the area of talent management.
• Child Killers: The Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences Some predators can be very compassionate with their pampering behavior patterns. It is vital to know the likelihood of abuse with new friends.
• Effects of the Pandemic on Early Childhood Education and Children The pandemic has placed early childhood education at serious risk. The closing of learning institutions that provide young children with education is a threat to their potential growth.
• Voluntary Movement Patterns: From Infancy to Childhood The voluntary movement patterns throughout the first two years of infant development include rolling over, sitting, crawling, walking, reaching and grasping, and striking.
• Psychological Perspectives and Behaviours in Childhood Freud suggested that there were vital five stages of development in childhood: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital. These are called psychosexual.
• The Sweet Time of The Childhood During this period a person gathers different character traits and attributes which develop inside the person and ultimately shape his character.
• Classroom Plan For Early Childhood Education This paper will look at the child-centered developmentally appropriate classroom plan for early childhood learners of ages 3-5 (pre-school).
• Childhood Obesity Interventions: Data Analysis The described analysis of research variables will make it possible to test the research and null hypotheses and contribute to the treatment of obesity in children.
• Childhood Obesity Causes: Junk Food and Video Games The problem of “competitive foods and beverages” that are sold in schools outside the existing breakfast and lunch programs has been discussed for a while now.
• Advocacy Campaign: Childhood Obesity This paper will review two articles studying different advocacy campaigns: a community-based approach and a youth-led intervention for childhood obesity.
• Standard 3 for Early Childhood Professional Standard 3 of observing, documenting and assessing to support young children and families is implemented in the work of ECP in a form of systematic observations.
• Childhood Obesity: A Global Public Health Crisis Karnik and Kanekar try to show the threatening tendency towards the deterioration of children`s health and the actions that should be performed to change the situation.
• Food Ads Ban for Childhood Obesity Prevention In order to prevent childhood obesity, it is necessary to ban food ads because they have adverse effects on children’s food preferences, consumption, and purchasing behaviors.
• Early Childhood Development and Its Stages Child development is complex and involves transitions from one stage to another. These stages describe the way the child develops physically, cognitively and in the use of language.
• Intergenerational Transmission and Prevention of Adverse Childhood Experiences Adverse childhood events (ACEs) are traumatic events in childhood that increase the risk of negative consequences for physical, mental health, and social problems throughout life.
• Childhood Obesity and Overweight Issues The paper discusses childhood obesity. It has been shown to have a negative influence on both physical health and mental well-being.
• Childhood Attachment and Parenting Styles In social sciences and psychology, the term emotional attachment may refer to the process of understanding the expressive closeness.
• The Long-Term Consequences of Being Bullied or Bullying Others in Childhood This study attempts to discuss the main consequences on the mental and physical health of victims, bully-victims, and bullies themselves, and comment on the prevalent patterns.
• Childhood Obesity as an International Problem This paper explores the significance of using the web-based technological approach in combating obesity among Jewish children.
• Gay and Lesbian Adoption: Normalizing a Healthy Childhood This research paper will examine the legal framework of same-sex adoption in the US and Europe, review its socioeconomic, health-related and psychological implications.
• Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory: Personal Childhood Experience Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory provides adds to other developmental theories, shedding light on how personal experiences and factors shape cognitive and behavioral changes.
• Childhood Relationships & Adolescent Mental Health “Effects of early childhood peer relationships on adolescent mental health” analyzes the relationship between adolescent psychological adjustment and early peer relationships.
• Childhood Obesity Study: Literature Review Obesity in children remains a major public health issue. A growing body of evidence suggests that social networks present a viable way to improve the situation.
• Childhood Obesity and Self-Care Deficit Theory To help the target audience develop an understanding of the effects that their eating behavior has on their health, Dorothea Orem’s Theory of Self-Care Deficit can be utilized.
• Childhood Obesity: Data Management The use of electronic health records (EHR) is regarded as one of the effective ways to treat obesity in the population.
• Childhood Obesity Problem Solution As a means of solving the problem of childhood obesity, the author of the research proposes to develop healthy custom menus for schools under a program called “Soul Food.”
• Childhood Obesity, Social Actions and Intervention This literature review presents the major social actions and family-based interventions that have been in use to address the problem of obesity in children.
• Early Childhood Education as a Learning Stage Early childhood education is a critical and responsible stage. It is necessary to develop abilities in children that will help them in the future.
• Foundations in Early Childhood Education The formation of a new educational environment is built on a fundamentally new basis – a multidimensional understanding of life.
• Childhood and Adulthood Mental Disorder Teens and adults experience episodes of disorders. Childhood and adolescent mental disorders are compared to adult mental disorders in various ways.
• Management of Children in Early Childhood Education The management of children in early childhood classes is challenging due to the existence of numerous issues that influence the child management process.
• Psychological Assessments of Childhood Anxiety The article deduces findings on family accommodation of childhood anxiety disorders. There is a high correlation between parent-child anxiety.
• Guided Reflection: Foundations in Early Childhood Education The concepts of punishment and child-rearing approaches contribute not only to the understanding of children’s behaviors but also to parents’ attitudes.
• Parenting Styles: Infancy and Early Childhood Generally, a child’s behavior is directly linked to the parenting approach being used by the respective parent. Each technique used has a corresponding impact on the well-being.
• Learning Disabilities in Middle Childhood Learning disability refers to a specific disorder of academic learning that affects a particular task at school and lowers the child’s educational performance.
• Childhood Trauma, Development, and Spirituality It is almost impossible to find a person in the world who has not been haunted by trauma since childhood because parents spend less and less time on a person’s future development.
• Therapeutic Work With Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors Sexual abuse in childhood is an urgent social issue, which reverberates into adulthood. People who have been subjected to sexual crimes need professional psychological help.
• Childhood Obesity During the COVID-19 Pandemic While the COVID-19 pandemic elicited one of the worst prevalences of childhood obesity, determining its extent was a problem due to the lockdown.
• Preventing Obesity Health Issues From Childhood The selected problem is childhood obesity, the rates of which increase nationwide yearly and require the attention of the government, society, and parents.
• Biochemical and Neuropsychological Models of Childhood Psychiatric Disorders Differential diagnosis of psychiatric disorders associated with neurological diseases or affective disorders remains relevant to the present day.
• Describing the Problem of Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is a problem that affects many children. If individuals experience a health issue in their childhood, it is going to lead to negative consequences.
• Short- and Long-Term Memories of Childhood Abuse The problem of child abuse and its effects on the subsequent years of a person’s life is of increasing concern to memory scientists and clinicians.
• Preventing Obesity Health Issues From the Childhood The paper is valuable for parents of children who are subject to gaining excess weight because the report offers how to solve the issue.
• Teacher’s Emotional Intelligence in Early Childhood The teacher must keep the emotional intelligence of his students at a high level, which will have a positive impact on their future development.
• Childhood Obesity in the US from Economic Perspective The economic explanation for the problem of childhood obesity refers to the inability of a part of the population to provide themselves and their children with healthy food.
• The Problem of Childhood Obesity Obesity in childhood is a great concern of current medicine as the habits of healthy eating and lifestyle are taught by parents at an early age.
• Childhood Obesity in the US From an Economic Perspective Looking at the problem of childhood obesity from an economic point of view offers an understanding of a wider range of causes and the definition of government intervention.
• Childhood and Adolescent Obesity and Its Reasons Various socio-economic, health-related, biological, and behavioral factors may cause childhood obesity. They include an unhealthy diet and insufficient physical activity and sleep.
• Anthropology of Childhood in America The process of understanding human behavior can be complicated because people react and respond differently based on the situations and the overall surrounding.
• An Early Childhood Institution That I Would Like to Lead and How I Would Do This An early childhood institution that I would like to lead is the Joyce M. Huggins Early Education Center, which is a prominent center in the United States.
• Importance of Childhood Education and Development Early childhood education and development play a critical role in children’s educational and social experiences, assisting them in learning new skills.
• The Effect of Childhood Socioeconomic Status on Late Midlife Cognitive Abilities The article focuses on the effect of one’s childhood experiences and child’s socioeconomic status on their cognitive development into adulthood.
• Application of Technology in Early Childhood Education Systems The introduction of more profound technological concepts to young learners remains a matter of debate, sparking questions on the evaluation criteria to be used.
• Articles About Childhood Obesity The most straightforward technique to diagnose childhood obesity is to measure the child’s weight and height and compare them to conventional height and weight charts.
• Childhood Sexual Abuse and Its Results The case under review is a bright example of how childhood rape can destroy physical health and how essential it is to be aware of this.
• “Childhood” by Mary Ellen Mark: Atmosphere and Content Mary Ellen Mark’s exhibition “Childhood,” tells its viewer about the experiences of children from around the world.
• Effects of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals This annotated bibliography examines eight articles related to the topics of the effects of DACA on unauthorized migrants and issues of their integration.
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: Road to Legal Status This article aims to focus on the issues of effectiveness, constitutionality, and feasibility of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
• Sexual Assault as Childhood Trauma and Treatment The traumas individuals experienced in childhood result in post-traumatic stress disorder, which is further complicated by numerous co-occurring symptoms.
• Childhood Factors in Becoming an Addict in Adult Life This paper lists various programs and scientific approaches aimed at eliminating the factors of childhood that lead to drug addiction and alcoholism in adulthood.
• Technology Tools in Early Childhood Programs NAEYC is an international membership organization overseeing the promotion of high-quality early childhood education services.
• Childhood Mental Disorders: Symptoms and Treatment There are different types of childhood mental disorders with varying symptoms and the treatment given to reduce them.
• Physical and Mental Wellness of Young Children in the Early Childhood Classroom The paper research and summarizes the article “Affectionate touch and care” about ways to promote young children’s physical and mental wellness in the early childhood classroom.
• Injuries in the Early Childhood Classroom The paper research and summarizes an article “Preventing unintentional injuries in US early care and education” about ways to respond to injuries in the early childhood classroom.
• Pediatrics: Risk Factors Affecting Early Childhood Development The governments need to encourage cooperation between pediatricians and social workers to decrease risk factors affecting early childhood development.
• Childhood Immunization and Related Controversy The controversy regarding childhood immunization is connected to the caregiver’s fear that vaccines may cause harm, infect the child with the disease, or cause side effects.
• A National Childhood Obesity Prevention Program We Can!® A national childhood obesity prevention program We Can!® explains the rules for eating right and getting active. The program also pays attention to reducing screen time.
• Childhood Disorders: Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism spectrum disorders may be accompanied by genetic syndromes. Also, they can coexist with non-spectrum diagnoses, which include language disorders and learning disabilities.
• Childhood Obesity Teaching Experience and Observations The proposed teaching plan aimed at introducing the importance of healthy eating habits to children between the ages of 6 and 11.
• Early Childhood Caries: Research Discussion The term reliability refers “to the degree to which assessment tools in research can produce consistent and stable results”.
• Dental Caries Among Survivors of Childhood Cancer Some professionals considered caries to be one of the long-term health consequences experienced after cancer while others do not support such an idea.
• Childhood Obesity in Modern Schools Most schools have poor canteens with untrained staff and poor equipment for workers. That’s why they can’t cook quality food and offer better services to students.
• Childhood Asthma: Definition, Epidemiology, Diagnosis The purpose of this paper is to discuss the definition, epidemiology, clinical presentation, possible complications, and diagnosis of childhood asthma.
• The Sex Crime: Influence of Childhood Experiences Offenders may engage in sex crimes under an influence of having experienced sexual abuse themselves or other traumatic events in their childhood.
• The Problem of Childhood Obesity in the United States Childhood obesity is one of the reasons for the development of chronic diseases. In the US the problem is quite burning as the percentage of obese children increased significantly.
• Childhood Diabetes in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has one of the highest diabetes prevalence rates in the world. Five-year research determines that Saudi Arabia has an adult diabetes prevalence rate of 23.7%.
• Childhood Diabetes in Saudi Arabia: The Prevalence of Type 1 Diabetes Among Children Diabetes is one of the major chronic ailments facing children in Saudi Arabia. This trend has been observed in recent years.
• Childhood Obesity and Healthy Lifestyles The purpose of this paper is to discuss childhood obesity and the various ways of fostering good eating habits and healthy lifestyles.
• Policymaker Visit About the Childhood Obesity Problem The policy issue of childhood obesity continues to be burning in American society. It causes a variety of concurrent problems including mental disorders.
• Childhood Overweight and Obesity Childhood overweight and obesity have increased in the US. Effective transportation systems and planning decisions could eliminate such overweight-related challenges.
• Crime, Childhood Trauma, and Health The connection between crime, childhood trauma, poverty, and both physical and mental health would be all-encompassing and complete.
• Childhood Obesity and Its Potential Prevention The paper delves into the use of early onset obesity detection in children and suggests methods of potentially preventing childhood obesity later on in the child’s life.
• Parent and Child Perspectives on Adaptation to Childhood Chronic Illness The findings of the article and team critique can be used in the nursing practice to deal with the challenges that chronically ill children and their families.
• Childhood Obesity in Ocean Springs Mississippi The purpose of this article is to look at the problem of childhood obesity and how prevalent it is in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
• Adapting to Childhood Chronic Illness This study can easily pass the test of inclusivity since its design, which is qualitative, aptly allows the evaluation of data from categorical and non-categorical approaches.
• The Adaptation to Childhood Chronic Illnesses: Parental and Child Perspectives The methods used in data collection included focus groups of the different parents and children with specific relevance to the illness the child was suffering from.
• The Prevention of Childhood Obesity in Children of 1 to 10 Years of Age Educational interventions aimed at proper exercise, dieting, medication, and parental involvement decrease the overall BMI in children.
• Correlation Between Childhood Attachment and Adult Anxiety The relationship between childhood attachment and adult anxiety is an essential aspect to analyze due to the many negative implications for physical and psychological health.
• Childhood Gender Analysis: Factors Influencing Gender Perception To understand gender analysis in childhood it is important to understand gender. Gender is the socially constructed roles expected from each gender.
• Cognitive Development During the Middle Childhood Years Cognitive development is the gradual development of a child’s intelligence. At various stages, cognitive impairment, diseases at an early age, psychosocial and other factors can occur.
• Correlation Between Childhood Attachment and Adult Anxiety The relationship between childhood attachment and adult anxiety is an essential aspect of analyzing due to the many negative implications for physical and psychological health.
• The Research About Unhealthy Attachment in Childhood This research sample will include 20 randomly selected psychology students who have experienced unhealthy attachment in their childhood.
• The Early Childhood Education and Care Movement It is due to the ECEC movement, that children nowadays receive early education and care. What is more, their parents can work in the meantime.
• Observations Techniques for Early Childhood Educators The two observation techniques that can be used to examine the gross motor and fine motor skills are observation at play and regular observations.
• Special Stages of Childhood Development The main merit of this research lies in the analysis of psychological behavior of children in different natural, cultural, and ecological contexts.
• Wiesel Elie “Night”: Eliezer’s Lost Childhood The autobiographical story of Eliezer is a sad one, revealing the transformation from the pristine innocence of childhood to avoid and empty life of a different childhood.
• Diverse Families, Immigrants and Low Income on Early Childhood Education
• Integrating Cultural Beliefs Into Early Childhood Education
• “Night” by Elie Wiesel: Eliezer’s Lost Childhood and the Image in the Mirror
• Early Childhood Observation of Motor Skills
• Childhood Mental Disorders: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder: The Childhood and Adult Etiology
• Most Memorable Childhood Christmas
• Childhood Obesity: Issue Analysis
• Data Mining Techniques for African American Childhood Obesity Factors
• Approaches to Childhood Obesity Treatment
• Researching Childhood Obesity Issues
• Infant Feeding Practices and Early Childhood Obesity
• Childhood Obesity and Mothers’ Education Project
• Childhood Obesity Research Critiques
• Childhood Obesity: Medication and Parent Education
• Childhood Obesity as a Topic for Academic Studies
• Sexual Abuse in Childhood and Adult Problems
• The Role of Environment in Physical Development During the Middle Childhood
• Early Childhood Art Education: Personal Position
• Childhood Crime at School in the State of Texas
• Childhood Issues Research: Causes and Consequences
• The Issues of Childhood Obesity: Overweight and Parent Education
• Childhood Obesity and Parent Education: Ethical Issues
• Familial Influences on Early Childhood Development
• Early Childhood Assessment and Its Features
• Teaching Early Childhood: Preschool Curriculum
• Childhood and Adult Obesity in the US in 2011-12
• Standard 2 for Early Childhood Professional Development
• Childhood Obesity Study, Ethics, and Human Rights
• Childhood Obesity, Demographics and Environment
• Childhood Obesity and American Policy Intervention
• Childhood Obesity and Healtcare Spending in the US
• Childhood Obesity, Medical and Parental Education
• Nursing Role in Tackling Youth Obesity
• Childhood Obesity: Problem Issues
• Early Childhood: Inclusive Programs and Social Interactions
• Childhood Obesity and Eating Habits in Low-Income Families
• Childhood Vaccination Policy in Florida
• Early Childhood Education: Theoretical Basics
• Childhood Obesity and Family’s Responsibility
• Childhood Obesity: Parental Education vs. Medicaments
• Childhood Obesity and Healthy Lifestyle Education
• Childhood Obesity and Health Promoting Schools Program
• Childhood Obesity Risks, Reasons, Prevention
• Childhood Obesity: The Relationships Between Overweight and Parental Education
• The Role of Environment in Childhood Physical Development
• Frank Conroy’s Childhood in His ‘‘Stop-Time’’ Memoir
• Prevalence of Childhood and Adult Obesity in the US
• The Issue of Obesity in Youth in the U.S.
• The Role of Family in Childhood Obesity
• Early Childhood Program and Its Curriculum
• Childhood Obesity Risks and Preventive Measures
• Culture Incorporation in Early Childhood Education
• Childhood Vaccination: Policy-Priority Issues
• Pharmacotherapy for Childhood Obesity
• “Let’s Move” Intervention for Childhood Obesity
• Obesity Prevention in Childhood
• Childhood Obesity Prevention Trends
• Standard 2 of Early Childhood Professional Preparation
• Childhood Obesity, Health and Psychological State
• Parents’ Education in Childhood Obesity Prevention
• Childhood Obesity in the US
• Childhood Obesity and Its Solutions
• Standard 5 for Early Childhood Professional
• Childhood Obesity and Governmental Measures
• Childhood Obesity Research and Ethical Concerns
• Childhood Obesity and Independent Variable in Parents
• Childhood Vaccination as Healthcare Priority Policy Issue
• Social Relationships and Development in Childhood
• Childhood Obesity, Its Definition and Causes
• Childhood Fever Patients’ Readmission and Intervention
• Public Health Initiative for Childhood Obesity
• Childhood Obesity in the US: Factors and Challenges
• Childhood Obesity in the USA
• Racial and Ethnic Trends in Childhood Obesity in the US
• Age and Gender in Childhood Obesity Prevention
• Childhood Obesity and Public Health Interventions
• Lost Childhood in Ghetto in Elie Wiesel’s “Night”
• Childhood Obesity and Parent Education
• Childhood Obesity and Community Nursing Intervention
• Family-Based Childhood Obesity and Parental Weight
• Childhood Obesity and Depression Intervention
• Standard 2: Early Childhood Professional Preparation
• Problem of the Childhood Obesity
• Advocacy Campaign: the Problem of Childhood Obesity
• Humanistic Theory in Childhood Obesity Research
• Standard 5 of Early Childhood Professional Preparation
• Early Childhood Professional Preparation
• Standard 2 for Early Childhood Professional Training
• Childhood Obesity and Control Measures in the US
• Childhood Maltreatment’ and Psychosis’ Relationship
• Eliezer’s Lost Childhood – “Night” by Elie Wiesel Literature Analysis
• Psychology Issues: Childhood Development and Positive Parenting
• The Evidence of Association between Iron Deficiency and Childhood Obesity
• Childhood Disorders: Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Childhood Obesity: a Population Health Issue
• What Are 10 Early Childhood Behavior Management Strategies?
• Does Childhood Bullying Have Social Psychological Causes and Consequences?
• How Does Charlotte Bronte Portray the Childhood in “Jane Eyre”?
• Does Mental Illness Start in Childhood?
• What Is the Leading Cause of Childhood Depression?
• Do Girls and Boys Have a Totally Different Experience of Childhood?
• How Does Childhood Experiences Affect Mental Health?
• Does Childhood Health Affect Chronic Morbidity in Later Life?
• What Is the Most Common Mental Health Diagnosis in Childhood?
• Does Childhood Neglect and Abuse Affect Individual in Later Life?
• How Does Unresolved Childhood Trauma Manifest in Adults?
• Can Certain Childhood Events Trigger Something That Would Last a Lifetime?
• How Did Adolf Hitler’s Childhood Change His Personality and the Course of History?
• Does Childhood Trauma Cause Personality Disorders in Adults?
• What Is the Impact of Early Childhood Education?
• How Did Charles Dickens’ Childhood Affect His Writing?
• Does Early Childhood Vaccination Protect Against COVID-19?
• How Does Childhood Development Lean Towards Learning, Education, and Play?
• When Did Childhood End in Medieval Times?
• Does Early Life Exposure to Cigarette Smoke Permanently Harm Childhood Health?
• What Is the Role of Culture in Early Childhood Development?
• How Has Childhood Changed Over the Centuries?
• Does Socio-Dramatic Play in Early Childhood Increase Student Performance?
• What Age Is Considered the End of Childhood?
• How Do Childhood History and Culture Affect How We Live as Adults?
• Can Childhood Trauma Last a Lifetime?
• Does the Adult World Start Affecting Childhood Innocence?
• Has Childhood Obesity Become a Dangerous Epidemic?
• Does Work During Childhood Affect the Health of Guatemalan Adults?
• How Does Dickens Present the Theme of Childhood in “Oliver Twist”?
• The day I learned to ride a bicycle.
• Excitement and nervousness I felt on my first day at school.
• The hidden treasures of my grandfather’s attic.
• Building a treehouse with my friends.
• The anticipation of the Tooth Fairy’s visit after losing my first tooth.
• Playing imaginative games with friends.
• The joy of receiving the first pet.
• Family traditions that made holidays special in childhood.
• The thrill of winning a sports competition.
• The moment I lost my faith in Santa Claus.
• The significance of children’s books in early literacy development.
• How do children’s books help promote empathy in children?
• Storytelling as a way to teach emotional intelligence and social skills.
• How do children’s picture books foster imagination and creativity?
• The role of children’s books in teaching moral values.
• Multicultural children’s books as a way to promote diversity and inclusion.
• The role of fairy tales in teaching important life lessons.
• How can we encourage environmental consciousness through children’s literature?
• Reading aloud to children as a strategy to enhance their communication skills.
• The significance of children’s books in teaching culture and history.
• Childhood trauma: effects on mental health in adulthood.
• Early interventions to mitigate the impact of childhood trauma.
• Adverse childhood experiences and their influence on physical well-being in adulthood.
• The link between childhood trauma and substance abuse disorders.
• The role of social support in mitigating the effects of childhood trauma.
• The connection between childhood trauma and PTSD in adulthood.
• The influence of childhood trauma on academic achievement.
• Childhood trauma and engagement in self-destructive behaviors.
• The impact of childhood trauma on the ability to build healthy relationships.
• Trauma-informed policies in child welfare systems.

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StudyCorgi. (2021, September 9). 323 Childhood Essay Examples & Topics to Write About. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/childhood-essay-topics/

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StudyCorgi . "323 Childhood Essay Examples & Topics to Write About." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/childhood-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2021. "323 Childhood Essay Examples & Topics to Write About." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/childhood-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Childhood were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 5, 2024 .

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✍️Essay on Childhood: Samples in 100, 150 and 200 Words

• Updated on  
• Nov 2, 2023

Essay on Childhood: How was your childhood? I bet it was full of adventure, fun and joyful activities. Agatha Christie has rightly said – ‘One of the luckiest things that can happen to you in life is, I think, to have a happy childhood.’ Childhood memories are considered one of the most beautiful days one can ever experience in their life. Those are the days one can never forget. Well, no amount of words can describe those good old days. Today we will highlight the importance of childhood with some essays on childhood which you can use anywhere.

Table of Contents

• 1 Importance of Childhood
• 2 Essay on Childhood in 100 Words
• 3 Essay on Childhood in 150 Words
• 4 Essay on Childhood in 200 Words

Importance of Childhood

Childhood is life’s early stage of development where growth and changes rapidly take place A child needs to be nurtured and loved by all their family, friends, and teachers around him. At the same time, the child must have a healthy childhood to have a better mental health lifelong.

Childhood is that stage where young children get to learn about themselves as well as their surroundings. Early childhood is the best time to learn about developing good habits that will help them shape their future and at the same time be good human beings. Children should get into the habit of eating healthy food, getting fresh air, drinking plenty of water and finally doing a lot of exercise. By doing so, this will help them to grow into resilient adults who will be able to handle any situation.

Moreover, a child’s childhood is that period of their lifetime when they get to develop their personalities. Also, it is the time when they must be exposed to a variety of situations to develop into responsible people. It is important to remember that childhood is a time when children learn from their experiences and mistakes, explore various opportunities and create memories from them. 

Also Read: Essay on the Importance of the English Language for Students

Essay on Childhood in 100 Words

Childhood is that period when a child is considered to be one of the most carefree and joyful. In this period, a child has a lot of innocence, an unlimited number of opportunities and is naive. 

Some of the best childhood memories one can have are learning new things, playing with their friends, spending time with their family and finally learning skills which will help them lifelong. We all can recall those days when we used to play various types of games with our friends in the evening after school. The excitement of finishing our studies and going out, those days of watching our favourite TV shows can never be forgotten. 

Apart from all the fun days, childhood is the best time for personal development. We pick up the skills necessary such as communication skills and engage with the world. Each of us develops our distinct interests.

Also Read: Essay on Save Environment: Samples in 100, 200, 300 Words

Essay on Childhood in 150 Words

We all remember that magical period of our lives- Childhood. It was that time of our lives when the world around us was full of excitement when we were surrounded by our close ones and had nothing to worry about. Those days when all we had to do was study, meet friends, go to school and play outside. We all had created our exciting worlds. 

One of my most treasured childhood memories is, spending time with family and friends. Those days when we would visit our grandparent’s house, listening to stories during vacations is another of the best memories. All these memories have led to the creation of a unique bond between our family and who we have become as adults.

Apart from all the memories, childhood is the most important period of our lives when we get to learn new things and mould ourselves. It is rightly said that what we learn during our childhood days we get to carry throughout our lives.

How beautiful was that period, when we got to cultivate our talents, pick up new skills, and create our own distinct identities 

Also Read: Essay on Unity in Diversity in 100 to 200 Words

Essay on Childhood in 200 Words

Childhood is a magical period of one’s life. Those days of innocence, fun and endless possibilities, oh, how can one forget that It is now that we wish that we had the chance to relive that period once again? How can we forget that time when we created an endless amount of memories which will last a lifetime?

Gone are those days when we fought with our parents to buy us toys or play. With time, the definition of childhood has also changed. Children in the 21st century will now have a unique childhood experience, shaped by the technological advancements and social changes of our time. Now, children have access to information on their electronic devices (iPads/Phones). How can we forget, that children now prefer to use smartphones for entertaining themselves rather than playing outside? 

Despite these changes, the meaning of childhood can change no matter if the way of living has changed. Growing children still crave the love, support and guidance which will help them to be responsible adults. 

To conclude, everybody’s childhood is a priceless period. Parents and other adults who care for children contribute to their joyful and fulfilled childhood by showing them love, support, and guidance.

Related Articles

The time of life from birth to adolescence is known as childhood. It is a period of fast-paced cognitive, emotional, and physical growth. During this period, children learn and develop, acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed as adults.

Early experiences have a significant impact on how the brain develops in children.

There is no specified age for childhood. It depends on the person’s brain development. A person aged 18 or 21 can be considered as a child than someone who is 16 or 17.

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay-writing page and follow Leverage Edu ! 

Malvika Chawla

Malvika is a content writer cum news freak who comes with a strong background in Journalism and has worked with renowned news websites such as News 9 and The Financial Express to name a few. When not writing, she can be found bringing life to the canvasses by painting on them.

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• Child Development

4 Key Ways Your Childhood Shapes You

While your childhood is part of you, it doesn’t have to dictate who you become..

Posted March 8, 2019 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

• Understanding Child Development
• Find a child or adolescent therapist near me

To say that the child is the father to the man is old news — we all realize the influence of our childhoods on the adult we become. Like the foundation of a house, our childhood experiences are the foundation on which the rest of our lives are built. And if the foundation is not solid — has emotional cracks and wounds — these affect the structure of our adult lives.

Each of has a story that we walk out of our childhoods with — about the way our parents always argued, that our brother was abusive, that our sister was supportive, that our grandmother was the rock that kept us stable, that school was hell. We fill in the story with memories — of that awful argument when our father punched a hole in the wall, that time our bullying brother held us down on the playground until the teacher made him get off, the kind attention of our sister when we lost a toy, the way our grandmother listened when we were upset one Christmas, how we felt lonely when we switched schools in the 6th grade. The memories reinforce the story, and the story reinforces our sense of the story of why we are who we are now.

But while each of our stories are unique, there are broader impacts of childhood that affect us all. Here are the most common ones:

Birth order

There are decades of research on birth order and its impact on child/adult development. It has suggested, for example, that by and large, the oldest children (or an only child) are likely to grow up and be good leaders, do well in school and be high achievers, be "good" kids, the ones who follow the rules. They can also often be anxious, can walk on eggshells around others, be sensitive to authority, can be self-critical.

Why? Because they bear the full brunt of the parents' expectations and emotions. They have no siblings to serve as barriers. In this two-against-one scenario, they adapt, are sensitive to what the parents expect, and to emotionally survive in the family, step up and accommodate.

The second child: Often rebellious, pushes the boundaries , questions authority, bucks the system. There’s a theory that our American culture with its independent, land of opportunity, pull-yourself-up-from-your-own-bootstraps climate is the result of all those second-born children who immigrated to the new world because their first-borns siblings would inherit all the property and wealth and so needed to make their own opportunities. Bunching them together in one place, it's no surprise they found kindred spirits and were ready to start a revolution.

But just as the first-born is reacting to the parents and their expectations, the second born is bouncing off the first-born. Their identity comes from being unlike the first — the anti-good child — and from this stance they are able to grab the parents' attention.

The middle child: The middle child often described as struggling to grab the parents' attention at all. They are often labeled the forgotten child, the lost child, the one who gets overlooked in the shuffle between the first and second or the attention heaped on the baby. Where the first-born may leave his childhood sensitive to pleasing others, the second sensitive to power and objecting to rules, the middle child may be sensitive to being overlooked, not being appreciated, not feeling important.

The baby: The stereotype of the youngest children is that they are spoiled — everyone in the family paid attention to them because they were the youngest, so cute, etc. Getting used to having so much attention without much effort can lead to them feeling entitled as an adult and angry when they don’t get what they expect. But it can also lead to anxiety — because others were always stepping in take care of them, they never were able to build up the strong self-confidence that comes from handling things on their own. As an adult, they can get overwhelmed and then instinctively lean on others to bail them out.

Emotional wounds

Emotional wounds are about what you particularly learned to be sensitive to in growing up. It is usually one or two of five things: criticism, micromanaging, feeling neglected, not feeling heard or feeling dismissed, not being appreciated. We all walk out of our childhoods with something.

As a child, your only ways of coping are to get good á la first-born; get angry, á la second-born; or withdraw, á la often the middle-born. And like the birth order, you bounce off your siblings — my brother is the good one, my sister the angry one, I’m the quiet one. The consequences here are that you bring these coping styles into your adult relationships and when you feel wounded, do what you learned. The problem is that this often triggers the other guy’s wound (you withdraw because you feel criticized, the other gets angry because he feels neglected) and the cycle feeds off itself with each person feeling wounded and operating out a childhood brain.

And if these wounds come from trauma — abuse, severe neglect, grief , and loss — this adds another layer: When we are traumatized we instinctively, though often unconsciously, decide how we need to be in order to protect ourselves from such pain in the future. Here we decide not to get close to others, to not trust, to cling so others don't leave, to try and be perfect, to put up a wall of anger .

Family climate

Or you become hyper-alert. This is often the childhood default for growing up in an unsafe environment: your parents arguing all the time or your mother being anxious and yelling; your dad drinking and knowing his moods could change in a nanosecond; there never-ending tension though you could never quite figure out the source. And so your only defense as a child is to always be on guard — to stay on your toes and try and adjust to the emotional weather. Here the oldest child tries to walk on eggshells better, the second child is always ready to pick a fight, the middle retreats to her room, the baby cries and waits for someone to take care of him.

Role models

We usually develop a black and white reaction to our childhood role models. You either identify with the aggressor – I become my mom and can easily yell when I’m stressed or become aggressive like my dad — or I move towards the opposite: I decide sometime in my teen or early adult years not to be like them and instead I never get angry and hold things in, or if my dad drank, I don’t.

The problem here is that your solution is too simple because it is viewed through a child’s eyes. You don’t yell or drink but instead, internalize all your emotions and get self-critical and depressed . Or you don’t drink but instead, act like a dry drunk.

The point here is that all these come together to become the person you are. Your coping styles become your default when you become emotionally triggered, your sensitivities don’t go away and you easily fall back into your childhood feelings and coping styles, your hyper-vigilance doesn't get turned off and you develop a generalized anxiety disorder, the decision you made to protect yourself from further trauma limits your adult life. You try your best to change your past, but find yourself falling back into the same potholes and behaviors as your parents despite your efforts.

Changing the pull of the past

The foundation that was laid down don't have to be permanent and can be repaired. The coping styles you developed for a lot of good reasons don’t have to be your defaults now that you are an adult. The challenge for each of us to have ways of redoing and repairing our childhoods, repairing those cracks in the foundation, noticing the triggers, upgrading the software of our brains. Here’s how to begin to do it:

Understand the impact . If you know why and how you became the person you are, you now have an opening to begin to change it. This is self-awareness, the counter to going on auto-pilot — that I do what I do because I do it. If you know you tend to walk on eggshells, can too easily flare up with anger, can withdraw or are sensitive to feeling overlooked or can become passive and feel entitled, you now have a key to unlock that door that is holding you back.

Change your reactions . Psychodynamic approaches help you do this by helping you unravel your past and gain insight into the sources of those old wounds. With this, you can begin to consciously separate the past from the present and then now make different and choices in the present. But you can also do this without all the drudging into the past. You can do it in the present, in your current relationships.

Here you notice and focus on your reactions or over-reactions. You use your self-awareness of your triggers, your wounds, and now proactively decide to do something different; this is what cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on. Here you slow down and calm your automatic emotional reactions so that your rational adult brain can step in and help you see other options: that you need to speak up rather than accommodating; that you listen to your wants rather than your shoulds; that instead of being angry and rebellious and angry, you use your anger as information to let others know what you need; you move forward rather than retreating and avoiding, you tackle a problem on your own rather than waiting and expecting for others to take care of it for you.

You move against your grain; you do now what you couldn’t do as a child.

Take baby steps . And it's important that you go slow; you don’t have to do the one-week makeover. Take small steps to redo your reactions: Start with those who don’t trigger you as strongly, whose reactions you care less about. The situation is not as important as your response. This is about rewiring your brain, stepping outside your comfort zone, building your self-confidence by finding out through experience that what your childhood brain is telling could happen doesn't.

Decide on who you want to be . Often, we leave our childhoods only aware of negative space, who were don’t want to be: not the yelling mother, the drunk father. Instead go proactive, towards the positive, and as an adult define who you want to become based not on your fears, but your image of what a solid good adult can be. This is about defining your values, rather than just following the shoulds, about deciding what role models you want to follow or what role model you want to be for your own children, rather than just struggling to avoid becoming your own parents. Rather than thinking about how you need to be to avoid repeating history, instead think about the history you want to create, right here, today, right now.

Our childhoods are a part of us. While we can't change the past, we can choose to look at it through a different lens; we can move forward in the present in spite of our childhood wounds, and in the process heal them. Step back, look at what you've walked out with, see what you’ve learned, decide what to keep and what to ignore.

And most of all, move forward.

Bob Taibbi, L.C.S.W., has 49 years of clinical experience. He is the author of 13 books and over 300 articles and provides training nationally and internationally.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Life Experiences — Childhood Memories

Childhood Memories Essay Examples

1. childhood memories essay prompt samples.

Before we embark on this journey down memory lane, let's first understand what a childhood memories essay entails. An essay prompt typically serves as your guiding star in crafting your piece. Here are a few samples to give you an idea of what to expect:

... Read More 1. Childhood Memories Essay Prompt Samples Before we embark on this journey down memory lane, let's first understand what a childhood memories essay entails. An essay prompt typically serves as your guiding star in crafting your piece. Here are a few samples to give you an idea of what to expect: "Write an essay about a significant childhood memory that shaped your character." "Describe a vivid childhood experience that left a lasting impact on your life." "Reflect on a cherished memory from your early years and discuss its significance."

These prompts serve as the foundation for your essay. They help you identify the core theme and purpose of your narrative.

2. Brainstorming the Perfect Childhood Memories Essay Topic

Now that you have a grasp of the prompts, it's time to brainstorm and select the most fitting topic for your childhood memories essay. Consider the following points:

• Emotional Impact: Think about memories that evoke strong emotions. These are often the most compelling stories.
• Life Lessons: Reflect on memories that taught you valuable life lessons or shaped your perspective.
• Vividness: Choose memories with vivid details and sensory experiences; they make your essay come alive.
• Uniqueness: Opt for memories that stand out or have a unique twist, avoiding overly common topics.

By considering these points, you can pinpoint a memory that not only resonates with you but also captivates your readers.

3. Examples of Unique Essay Topics

Now, let's explore some unique and captivating essay topics that revolve around childhood memories. These topics are sure to stand out from the crowd:

• "The Day I Discovered a Hidden Treasure in Grandma's Attic."
• "A Magical Encounter with a Friendly Stray Cat: My Childhood Confidant."
• "The Great Lemonade Stand Adventure: Lessons in Entrepreneurship."
• "An Unexpected Journey: Getting Lost and Finding My Way Home."
• "The Night Our Backyard Turned into an Enchanted Forest."

These topics offer a fresh perspective on childhood memories, ensuring your essay engages your audience from start to finish.

4. Crafting Inspiring Paragraphs and Phrases

To bring your childhood memories essay to life, you need to infuse it with captivating paragraphs and phrases. Here are some samples to inspire your writing:

"As I climbed up the creaky attic stairs, the dust danced in the sunlight streaming through the cracks. There, amidst forgotten relics of the past, I stumbled upon a weathered, leather-bound journal that held secrets from generations long gone." "The stray cat, with its fur as soft as memories themselves, became my confidant. We'd spend endless afternoons together, sharing secrets only a child and a feline friend could understand." "With a cardboard sign in hand and a heart full of dreams, I set up my first lemonade stand on that scorching summer day. The taste of success was as sweet as the lemonade itself." "As twilight descended, the stars emerged in our enchanted backyard. Fireflies danced, and the trees whispered secrets to my young ears, painting a canvas of wonder and magic."

Feel free to use these samples as a starting point for your own narrative. Remember, the key is to paint a vivid and emotional picture with your words.

With these insights, you're well on your way to crafting an outstanding childhood memories essay that will leave a lasting impression. Embrace the nostalgia, choose a unique topic, and let your words transport your readers back to your cherished moments of the past.

Childhood Memoir: My Adventures

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Childhood Essay

Childhood is one of the most beautiful phases of human life. It is a time of discovery and exploration. At this stage, we learn about the world and ourselves. As kids, we understand life as an endless adventure with infinite possibilities. When we grow up, our worlds broaden. It is important to create a healthy and happy childhood. The easiest way to do this is by providing the best upbringing possible.

Moreover, childhood is a time of innocence and wonder. Activities such as playing, exploring, and simply being a kid are special because they are all a part of the carefree nature of childhood.

Children are constantly learning new things about themselves and the world around them. This childhood essay covers the importance of well-being, mental health, and nutrition to kids to help parents better understand their children and what they need to do to protect them.

Childhood is a period of physical and intellectual growth, hence it is an important period of a child’s development. The period can be regarded as a means of cultural construction whereby all things influenced by the child are constructed as being innocent, different from adults.

Importance of Childhood

During children’s early years, they grow and change rapidly. They need to be nurtured and loved by those around them, whom they trust for this time to be successful. It is also important to have a healthy childhood for better mental health lifelong.

As children grow, they learn about themselves and their surroundings. Early childhood is the time to develop good habits that will shape them for life. They need healthy meals, exercise, fresh air, and plenty of love to grow into resilient adults who can handle any situation.

Childhood is the time when kids develop their personalities and tastes. It is also when they need to be exposed to different experiences to grow up to be mature adults. The importance of childhood shouldn’t be overlooked because this is where kids learn, explore, and build memories.

Memories of Childhood

We all have memories from our childhood that we cherish. It’s a time in our life when everything seemed perfect and wonderful. The most memorable things about childhood were holidays, birthdays, school days and vacations. Our parents did their best to make these special occasions special for us, ensuring we had plenty of delicious sweets, good friends, family time and doing something that captured our attention.

My childhood memories are the best part of my life. I remember when I used to play in the nearby park with my parents and sisters, when I had ice cream, or when playing in the hidden garden in our backyard. Every memory is etched in my heart and mind for eternity.

I always looked forward to the summer holidays. Going to the beach near my grandmother’s house was what I usually did. It used to be so hot outside, and it was the perfect way for me to relax while reading a book in the sun.

I was so excited to have the summer vacation because I love spending time with my friends and doing all of the things that we always talked about. We used to go to the movies, and my uncle drove us around town or just stayed out in the backyard.

Also, our winter vacation used to be fun, and our family used to have a get-together. All my cousins used to come to our house. Once, we built a snowman and named it Goofy. Goofy was our best friend who listened to our secrets.

To know more about childhood memories, click on BYJU’S childhood memories essay . Find more essays, worksheets, puzzles, etc., on our website.

Frequently Asked Questions on Childhood Essay

What is your favourite childhood memory.

One of my favourite memories from my childhood was spending the summers at my grandparents’ house. I used to go to the beach at my grandparent’s house. During summer, it is the perfect way for me to relax while reading a book in the sun.

Why is childhood important to kids?

Childhood is important because it is the phase where kids develop their personalities and tastes. They are also exposed to different experiences to grow up to be mature adults. Childhood is the time when kids learn, explore, and build memories.

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4: Influences of Family, Society, and Culture on Childhood

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• Page ID 64519

• Susan Eliason
• Bridgewater State University

Learning Objectives

This week you will:

• Describe and analyze the influences of family, society, and culture influence the lives of children.

Introduction

How are childhoods influenced by nature and nurture? This week we will consider how family society and culture influence the lives of children. You will explore how the natural sciences (biology) and social sciences (anthropology, psychology, social work, and sociology) study these influences on children. We will use an interdisciplinary approach to learn more about the topic of sexuality. I like to use Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory to illustrate how the influences of nurture impact childhood. Watch Urie Bronfenbrenner Ecological Theory explained on You Tube on Blackboard to learn more about this model . How might Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological theory help you study your research question or childhood in general ?

Terms and Definitions

Important concepts to look for in this chapter:

• Socialization: the process where children learn to meet the expectations of and how to fit into a society.
• self-chosen and self-directed
• an activity in which means are more valued than end
• structure, or rules determined by the players
• imaginative, non-literal, mentally removed in some way from “real” or “serious” life
• involves an active, alert, but non-stressed frame of mind. (Gray, 2008)
• Competence: The ability, capacity, or qualification to perform a task, fulfill a function, or meet the requirements of a role to an acceptable standard.
• Cultural Relativism : a person’s beliefs and activities should be understood based on that person’s own culture.
• Developmentalism : The behavior of children is shaped by physical, psychological, and emotional development. Maturity is determined by age and stage of development.
• Diversity : There are many different types of childhood.
• Ethnicity : The culture of people in a given geographic region, including their language, heritage, religion and customs. To be a member of an ethnic group is to conform to some or all of those practices. Race is associated with biology, whereas ethnicity is associated with culture.
• Familialization : the caring of children in individual households and homes by family members rather than in state institutions.
• Gender : The condition of being male, female, or neuter. In a human context, the distinction between gender and SEX reflects the usage of these terms: Sex usually refers to the biological aspects of maleness or femaleness, whereas gender implies the psychological, behavioral, social, and cultural aspects of being male or female (i.e., masculinity or femininity.) [American Psychological Association, 2015]
• Friendship : Children’s affective social relations with their peers and others.

American Psychological Association. (2015). APA dictionary of psychology (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Ecological Systems Theory – used often in Social Work

Urie Bronfenbrenner (1917-2005) developed the ecological systems theory to explain how everything in a child and the child’s environment affects how a child grows and develops. The theory is illustrated in the figure below. This chapter will concentrate on the the Micro and Mesosystem levels. I find this model helpful in understanding the influences of nurture on childhood.

The microsystem is the small, immediate environment the child lives in. How these groups or organizations interact with the child will have an effect on how the child grows; the more encouraging and nurturing these relationships and places are, the better the child will be able to grow. Furthermore, how a child acts or reacts to these people in the microsystem will affect how they treat her in return. Each child’s special genetic and biologically influenced personality traits, what is known as temperament, end up affecting how others treat them.

The mesosystem , describes how the different parts of a child’s microsystem work together for the sake of the child. For example, if a child’s caregivers take an active role in a child’s school, such as going to parent-teacher conferences and watching their child’s soccer games, this will help ensure the child’s overall growth.

The exosystem includes the other people and places that the child herself may not interact with often herself but that still have a large effect on her, such as families workplaces, extended family members, the neighborhood,.

The macrosystem , which is the largest and most remote set of people and things to a child but which still has a great influence over the child. The macrosystem includes things such as the relative freedoms permitted by the national government, cultural values, the economy, wars, etc.

Chronosystem developmental processes vary according to the specific historical events that are occurring as the developing individuals are at one age or another. Moreover, cultures also are continually undergoing change.

As you read and explore the topics in the chapter, think about how the influences impact children.

Nature and Nurture Shape Childhood

Now, let’s use the concept of sexuality to see how nature and nurture are interconnected.

Nature and nurture, biology and culture, work together to shape human lives. Nature and nurture are intertwined, processes.

• Do you assume biology (nature) is destiny that may be minimally modified by culture (nurture, or environment) throughout childhood?
• Do you assume environment (nurture) is a more important factor in shaping individual psychology than biology (nature)?
• Specifically, what is the relationship between biology and culture with respect to sexuality ?

The biological features of sex and sexuality are determined by chromosomes and hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. Biologically, there are more than 2 sexes – chromosomes which can be XX, XY, XXX, XXY, XO, XYY. XX is female and XY is male; usually if the Y exists the person is generally seen as male. O produces ambiguous sexual features. Hormones and sex are apparent at seven weeks in utero.

The difference between sex and gender is: sex is male or female and is biological . Gender is meaning given to biological sex by culture . We develop a gender identity which is how an individual identifies as masculine or feminine. Gender is a spectrum. We learn gender roles during childhood, such as, appropriate behaviors and work or division of labor

• Can a male can be a female?
• Is it only one or the other?
• Are gender and sexuality fluid over a lifespan?
• Can they change? Is sex a spectrum like gender?
• nadleehi (born male functions in women roles)
• Dilbaa (born female functions in male role)

I challenge you to reflect on gender and sexual diversity. Imagine you have a child who is born with an intersex anatomy [XXX, XXY, XO, XYY] You read up on diagnostic testing and the recommendations of the Intersex Society of North America , that suggest you give your child a binary gender assignment (girl or boy). Do you follow the advice of the ISNA? Why/why not? If not, what do you name your child? How do you dress your child? As your child acquires language, what pronouns do you use for your child? Would you use he, she, ze, or they? You inform yourself and read about current possibilities at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center’s article on Gender Pronouns What is ‘competency’?

Families should help children mature and become competent. The concept of competency is related to the concept of agency discussed in Chapter 2. Listening to children and respecting their opinions can contribute to their personal development. A supportive environment can lead to children to making better decisions, prepare them to participate in society and strengthen their accountability. Children’s competency or abilities may be recognized, ignored, encouraged or inhibited. The supporting adults’ willingness to respect children’s decisions will determine whether the children’s choices are honored Figure 1, described by Alderson (1992) and illustrated by Orr (1999), illustrate the internal and external variants that may influence a child’s competency. (van Rooyen, Water, Rasmussen, & Diesfeld, 2015)

When we consider competence, we should also think about cultural relativism, are there universal standards we can apply to childhood? Is the UNCRC a set of universal standards? Implementation of the UNCRC can be difficult when violations of the rights of children are justified on the basis of cultural practice. Think about the practice of female circumcision.

In 1996, a 17-year-old girl named Fauziya Kassindja arrived at Newark International Airport and asked for asylum. She had fled her native country of Togo, a small west African nation, to escape what people there call excision.

Excision is a permanently disfiguring procedure that is sometimes called “female circumcision,” although it bears little resemblance to the Jewish ritual. More commonly, at least in Western newspapers, it is referred to as “genital mutilation.” According to the World Health Organization, the practice is widespread in 26 African nations, and two million girls each year are “excised.” In some instances, excision is part of an elaborate tribal ritual, performed in small traditional villages, and girls look forward to it because it signals their acceptance into the adult world. In other instances, the practice is carried out by families living in cities on young women who desperately resist. For more information read the World Health Organization Fact sheet (2017) Female genital mutilation

Cultural relativism would accept the practice. Does the UNCRC allow the practice?

Role of families

As discussed during Week 1, we see the world through our cultural lens, we are cultural conditioned. Conditioning happens at different levels

• Societal [Macrosystem in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory]
• Institutional [Exosystem in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory]
• Group [Microsystem in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory]
• Individual [The center of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory]

The group level or microsystem in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory includes families. One of the major influences on childhood is families. The family is the principal institution responsible for childbearing and childrearing so society assumes a more passive role in facing the commitments and costs connected to childhood. The UNCRC gives all children the right to a family. The right to a family allows children to be connected to their history, and it offers a protective perimeter against violation of their rights. Children separated from their families can become victims of violence, exploitation, trafficking, discrimination and all other types of abuse. However, sometimes the family which should be protecting the child is in fact inflicting the abuse.

Families are the first to have the power to act on behalf of the child and ensure their rights are respected. Hopefully, their objectives are to protect the child and to secure the child an education, development, security, health and morality. To achieve these objectives, a family should provide supervision by controlling the child’s comings and goings, relationships, and communications. For example, they may forbid the child from maintaining relationships with certain persons that they believe are not in his or her best interest. Families make educational decisions including religious and sex education and decide on the health care to give their child. Families are responsible for the needs of the child, such as food, clothing, shelter, educational costs, vacations (if possible), and health coverage. What happens to children when families find it difficult to provide basic needs? Families often struggle with finding time, money and resources to effectively parent. In the US, families may have difficulty earning a living wage, finding social supports, securing affordable housing, high-quality child care and paid family leave. It can be difficult to provide a nurturing environment all children need and may result in neglectful or abusive environment.

Did you know that in 2016 the relative poverty rate for children 0-5 in the U.S. was more than 25%; for ages 0-18 years the rate was about 22%. In other words about 1 out of 4 young children in the United States live in poverty. What changes in the US might lower the child poverty rate? How can we create environments that enrich the lives of all young children and their families, allowing them the opportunity to realize their full human potential?

A former student shared: So I definitely think that the Department of Children and Families (DCF) needs to be more pro-active in checking in on families, especially families living under the poverty line, to ensure they are receiving assistance if needed and that the child is living in a stable home where he/she is healthy and can thrive. I agree with the student that all children deserve a safe and healthy environment and our society should support them. I wonder why income often is the only resource considered when giving families assistance. To help you think about interacting with diverse families, please read the following scenario:

You are a teacher in the 4-year-old room at Kids Place child care center.Daequan and Mathew are two children in your class. Both were born at 30 weeks’ gestation and had hospital stays of about 6 weeks. Both are in generally good health and are monitored for respiratory illnesses. For the most part, the boys are reaching their developmental milestones, with slight delays in language/emotional development.

At the present time, Daequan and his mother, Shania, are living in a homeless shelter. Their home burned down 2 weeks ago and they had nowhere else to go. Matthew is part of an intact family. Ralph and Sue are his parents, and he has an older brother, Nick. The family lives in an affluent community a mile from Kids Place.

• Which child would appear to be experiencing a greater number of risk factors that can affect his development?
• With which family would it appear to be easier to develop a partnership? Why?

Then you learn:

Daequan and his mother have a number of extended family members available for support and will be moving into an apartment within a month’s time. Shania has contacted a number of local agencies for assistance to rebuild her and her son’s lives.

Matthew’s father travels 3 weeks out of the month. Sue is on medication for depression and has recently started drinking around the boys during the evenings and weekends. She turns down offers of help from her friends and family and tells them everything is fine with her marriage and her ability to raise her sons.

What questions might you or others ask to find out “the whole story”? Ruby Payne (2009) describes the nine resources by which one negotiates their environment. Poverty is when you need too many of these resources, not just financial.

• Language (ability to speak formally)
• Support systems
• Relationships/role models
• Knowledge of middle class rules

How do you and other discover what resources are available to children and families? How do you build on a families strengths. Everything that improves the economic security, safety and peace of mind of families improves parenting—and increases children’s chances for growing into healthy, compassionate and responsible adults. These include living wages and reliable hours, secure housing, high-quality childcare, paid family leave, safe neighborhoods, flex time, desegregation and social inclusion. Which disciplinary perspectives might help you understand family influences on childhood?

Friendships

Besides family and other adults in the culture, peers can be an influence on childhood. Recent research shows the importance of friendship, and its impact on mental and physical health. Preschool friendships are helpful in developing social and emotional skills, increasing a sense of belonging and decreasing stress. (Yu, Ostrosky, & Fowler, 2011). People who feel lonely or socially isolated tend to be more depressed, have more health issues and may have a shorter lifespan. (Lewis, 2016). Having a support system can help us handle hardships.

Selman and colleagues identified five successive stages in how children view friendships. The chart below illustrates the theory. Why might it be helpful to understand the stages of friendship? How would it inform your possible work with children and families?

Play in one way in which families and peers interact with the child. Play is essential to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth and is one of the rights in the UNCRC. Article 31 of the UNCRC states:

1. Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.

2. Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.

It is through play that children engage and interact in the world around them at an early age. Play allows children to create and explore a world they can master, conquering their fears while practicing adult roles, developing new competencies that lead to enhanced confidence and the resiliency they will need to face future challenges.

Child-directed play allows children to practice decision-making skills, move at their own pace, discover their own areas of interest, and ultimately engage fully in the passions they wish to pursue. When play is controlled by adults, children follow adult rules and lose some of the benefits child-directed play offers them, such as developing creativity, leadership, and group skills. Play builds active, healthy bodies. Play is a simple joy that is a cherished part of childhood. However, play can be challenged by child labor and exploitation practices, war and neighborhood violence, living in poverty, over scheduling, and pressures on children to achieve. (Ginsburg, 2007)

A wonderful resource to learn more about play is available on the National Association for the Education of Young Children website . After reviewing the information on the website reflect on these questions:

How can we enhance the opportunities for balance in children’s lives that will create the optimal development to prepare them to be academically, socially, and emotionally equipped for future growth? How can we make sure we play enough?

Genes make us human, but our humanity is a result of the complex interplay of biological and cultural factors. This week you read about the of the influences of family, society, and culture as they bear on the lives of children. As you discuss, try to answer: How are interactions between children and adults shaped, modified and redefined by overlapping institutional and organizational forces such as the economy, family, education, politics, religion, and so on? What is the impact of experiences in childhood later in life?

After reading this chapter and completing the activities you should be able to

• Describe and analyze the influences of family, society, and culture influence the lives of children as seen the discussion and assumptions inventory

Reflection and Discussion

This week we explored the influences of family, society, and culture influence the lives of children. Reflect on your understanding of these ideas:

Now you are ready to type in Pages or in a Word document, a minimum of 3 paragraphs explaining your connections, extensions, and curiosities. Copy and paste your response in the Blackboard discussion or in class

Collaborative Research Project

So far during this course, you brainstormed a research question and should be using at least 2 disciplines to examine the question. Your work this week is to present your preliminary findings as a draft of the final project. Soon you will submit a video or some other oral report as well as written materials. You will likely use the same format as the Assumption Inventory. The report should

• Summarize your research question ( What ). Remember to relate the question to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
• Present the research from different disciplines that help to answer or explain the question. ( So What )
• Apply criteria listed in the grading rubrics to create a persuasive presentation
• Discuss possible solutions. (This is the start of the Now What of the project)
• Complete a peer feedback questionnaire.

Ginsburg, K. R. (2007) The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds. Pediatrics, 119, (1). doi: 10.1542/peds.2006-2697 Available at http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...1/182.full.pdf

Lewis, T. (2016). This common characteristic may be as big a risk to your health as smoking. Business Insider Website available at: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-social-isolation-affects-your-health-2016-1

Selman, R. (1981). The child as a friendship philosopher. In S. A. Asher & J. M. Gottman (Eds.), Development of Children’s Friendships. (pp. 250-251). (Original work published 1978) Retrieved from http://books.google.com

van Rooyen, A., Water, T., Rasmussen, S., and Diesfeld, K. (2015). What makes a child a ‘competent’ child? The New Zealand Medical Journal, 128, (1426). Available at www.nzma.org.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/46110/van-Rooyen-1628FINAL1426.pdf

Yu, S. Y., Ostrosky, M. M. & Fowler, S. A. (2011). Children’s Friendship Development: A Comparative Study. Early Childhood Research and Practice, 13 , (1).

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Some Early Childhood Experiences Shape Adult Life, But Which Ones?

Maanvi Singh

Having warm, supportive parents early on correlates with success in adulthood. Agent Illustrateur/Ikon Images hide caption

Having warm, supportive parents early on correlates with success in adulthood.

Most of us don't remember our first two or three years of life — but our earliest experiences may stick with us for years and continue to influence us well into adulthood.

Just how they influence us and how much is a question that researchers are still trying to answer. Two studies look at how parents' behavior in those first years affects life decades later, and how differences in children's temperament play a role.

The first study , published Thursday in Child Development , found that the type of emotional support that a child receives during the first three and a half years has an effect on education, social life and romantic relationships even 20 or 30 years later.

Babies and toddlers raised in supportive and caring home environments tended to do better on standardized tests later on, and they were more likely to attain higher degrees as adults. They were also more likely to get along with their peers and feel satisfied in their romantic relationships.

13.7: Cosmos And Culture

Why we aren't the parents we know we could be.

"It seems like, at least in these early years, the parents' role is to communicate with the child and let them know, 'I'm here for you when you're upset, when you need me. And when you don't need me, I'm your cheerleader,' " says Lee Raby , a psychologist and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Delaware who led the study.

Raby used data collected from 243 people who participated in the Minnesota Longitudinal Study of Risk . All the participants were followed from birth until they turned 32. "Researchers went into these kids' home at times. Other times they brought the children and their parents to the university and observed how they interacted with each other," Raby tells Shots.

Of course, parental behavior in the early years is just one of many influences, and it's not necessarily causing the benefits seen in the study. While tallying up the results, the researchers accounted for the participants' socioeconomic status and the environment in which they grew up.

Ultimately, they found that about 10 percent of someone's academic achievement was correlated with the quality of their home life at age three. Later experiences, genetic factors and even chance explain the other 90 percent, Raby says.

And a child's psychological makeup is a factor as well.

Shots - Health News

Anxious parents can learn how to reduce anxiety in their kids.

The second study , also published in Child Development , found that children's early experiences help predict whether or not they end up developing social anxiety disorder as teenagers — but only for those who were especially sensitive and distrustful as babies.

For this study, researchers from the University of Maryland observed how 165 babies interacted with their parents. When separated from their parents, some got upset but quickly recovered when they were reunited. Other babies had a harder time trusting their parents after a brief separation, and they weren't able to calm down after being reunited.

Those extra-sensitive babies were more likely to report feeling anxious socializing and attending parties as teenagers.

So what does this all mean? For one, it means that human development is complicated, according to Jay Belsky , a professor of human development at the University of California, Davis who was not involved in either study.

We know that our early experiences likely affect all of us to a certain extent, Belsky says. And we know that due to variations in psychological makeup, some people are more sensitive to environmental factors than others.

But that doesn't mean people can't recover from bad childhood experiences. "For some, therapy or medication may help," Belsky says. "And it's interesting, because there's now other evidence suggesting that the very kids who succumb under bad conditions are the ones who really flourish under good ones."

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Theories of Child Development and Their Impact on Early Childhood Education and Care

• Published: 29 October 2021
• Volume 51 , pages 15–30, ( 2023 )

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Developmental theorists use their research to generate philosophies on children’s development. They organize and interpret data based on a scheme to develop their theory. A theory refers to a systematic statement of principles related to observed phenomena and their relationship to each other. A theory of child development looks at the children's growth and behavior and interprets it. It suggests elements in the child's genetic makeup and the environmental conditions that influence development and behavior and how these elements are related. Many developmental theories offer insights about how the performance of individuals is stimulated, sustained, directed, and encouraged. Psychologists have established several developmental theories. Many different competing theories exist, some dealing with only limited domains of development, and are continuously revised. This article describes the developmental theories and their founders who have had the greatest influence on the fields of child development, early childhood education, and care. The following sections discuss some influences on the individuals’ development, such as theories, theorists, theoretical conceptions, and specific principles. It focuses on five theories that have had the most impact: maturationist, constructivist, behavioral, psychoanalytic, and ecological. Each theory offers interpretations on the meaning of children's development and behavior. Although the theories are clustered collectively into schools of thought, they differ within each school.

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The author is grateful to Mary Jalongo for her expert editing and her keen eye for the smallest details.

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Saracho, O.N. Theories of Child Development and Their Impact on Early Childhood Education and Care. Early Childhood Educ J 51 , 15–30 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-021-01271-5

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Early Childhood Education Essay

If you are writing an early childhood education essay, examples can be very useful to aid you in your research. How did this concept develop? What are the current principles of schooling for children? And what is the importance of early childhood education? The essay on this page aims to answer these questions.

• Historical development of Early Childhood Education

Current Principles of Early Childhood Education

Professional organizations, technology in early childhood development, improvements, controversial issues.

The following importance of early childhood education essay will tell you about the significance of learning institutions, organizations, and programs. Also, we’ll look at the key aspects that form the foundation of a child’s development. This sample will make it easier for you to cope with writing your own paper. So, you’ll write a “Why Is Early Childhood Education Important Essay” successfully.

Early Childhood Education is the field of practice, research, and study that deals with children’s experiences during their early stages of life. During childhood education, young children receive formal education and are under the care of professionals who may not be family members. Children receive this kind of education outside their homes. The term early childhood is used to refer to children below the age of regular schooling, which, according to many nations, is five years. However, this is not always true. For instance, in the U.S., it includes children below the age of eight years.

The educator should be aware of the physical, social, and cognitive development stages of preschoolers, toddlers, and babies. He/she must also cooperate with their parents to bring the child up in a good way.

According to Blenkin and Kelly (1996), the study of early childhood is important because it is the time during which the body and brain of a child are undergoing rapid development. During this stage, children develop skills and abilities like motor skills, language, psychosocial cognition, and learning.

Exogenous factors like the environment to which children are exposed from birth to eight years are said to affect the psychosocial, cognitive, and learning of the child (Cascio, 2021). Early childhood education builds a strong foundation for academic success in children. Its studies prepare the child for primary school education, contributing to the academic excellence of the child later in life.

Studies have shown that the readiness that children get from early childhood education has positive social and economic impacts during their adult life. Such children have limited chances of engaging in criminal behaviors and attaining good results in schools, which secures them good places in employment, resulting in higher earnings. Based on the significant role that childhood education plays, the content of this paper will emphasize the topic.

Historical Development of Early Childhood Education

The philosophy of early childhood education can be traced from the works of scholars like John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and John Amos Comenius. Sociologists like Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, and Sigmund Freud concentrated much on the developmental stages of children (Su & Yang, 2022). The scholars approached the discipline in different ways, but they all held the belief that early childhood education played a major role in developing the interests and abilities of children as they grow up.

The first and largest early childhood program was Kindergarten, which was developed in the United States between 1782 and 1852 by Friedrich Froebel. The program was later adopted in Europe and other countries (Cascio, 2021). The movement was accelerated by the Industrial Revolution and the absorption of women in large numbers to work in factories. Between 1870 and 1952, another early childhood program developed by Maria Montessori was also adopted in many countries (Cascio, 2021). However, the role of early education as the first step in the system of education came to the knowledge of many nations after the Second World War.

Blenkin and Kelly argue that Kindergarten was the first training institution to offer training skills for teachers of young children. The first training school was begun in Boston by German kindergarteners Matilda Kriege and her daughter in 1868. The term “kindergartener” was used to refer to children attending school and their teachers.

The kindergartens were started by German immigrants who were running away from the Russian Revolution in which Germany was defeated, and that’s why they were initially German-speaking. Today, the role of early childhood education is recognized worldwide. Public institutions have been established to offer training to these teachers because children at this stage are sensitive, and teachers should know how to deal with them.

To enhance early childhood education, the program is based on various principles aimed at making the system effective for improving the level of education. The program necessitates trained personnel, with teachers acquiring adequate training in early childhood education centers to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to interact and train young children successfully.

Early childhood education serves not only to assist working parents but also to help children acquire physical, cognitive, social, and emotional experiences away from their homes (Jalongo, 2021). During this period, children learn skills such as counting, playing, interacting, and socializing with others. Parents should understand that the purpose of sending their children to school is to gain the required knowledge and skills. According to Beneke and Helm (2003), the program is based on the principle that all childhood education programs should be licensed, and the teaching methodologies used should align with the interests and developmental needs of children.

Licensing ensures security and addresses the health needs of children. Teachers should ensure that the environment in which children live is secure and healthy, as children learn best when they feel free and secure (Macrides et al., 2021). Therefore, it is important for teachers to ensure that children are comfortable with enhancing their learning. Resources and programs needed in education centers should be coordinated by the government to prepare children for elementary and secondary education. The government should fund these institutions so that they can purchase materials and cover all expenses necessary for the successful learning of children.

Institutions should be provided with reading and writing materials, as well as good feeding programs for children (Redondo et al., 2019). Recreational facilities are also crucial, as playing is vital for young children. Coordination between parents, teachers, and the government is important.

Finally, the system is based on the principle that all children have the opportunity to access early childhood education, and parents are encouraged to enroll their children in the program as it creates a strong academic foundation.

Intensive research has been conducted concerning early childhood education because of its importance. It is argued that if interference in the fundamental development of skills and abilities of a child occurs during the early stages, this is likely to affect their learning potentiality in the future, and the damage may be long-lasting.

Various organizations have been established worldwide advocating the role played by early childhood education. Professional organizations support early childhood professionals by providing them with guidance and resources needed to better educate young children.

Examples of such organizations include The New York City Association for the Education of Young Children (NYCAEYC), the World Organization for Early Childhood Education, and the National Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), among others (Jalongo, 2021). World Organization for Early Childhood Education is a worldwide non-profit and non-governmental organization operating in more than 60 countries. The organization includes parents, teachers, health officers, activists, researchers, social workers, and students. The goal of the organization is to ensure that children between the ages of zero and eight years access their rights to education in all the member countries.

The NYCAEYC advocates for and promotes the quality of education offered to children below the age of eight years and their larger families, as well as enhancing their well-being by supporting professional development. The ACEI is a global organization whose aim is to support and promote optimal education and children’s development from birth till puberty. In addition, the organization encourages people to train and become professionals who would then bring change to society by passing acquired knowledge to children. The organization sees to it that all children access quality education.

In the modern world, some of the best practices employed by teachers in childhood education centers include play, songs, and dances that form the basic form of entertainment (Macrides et al., 2021). Play is crucial for young children because their brains are not fully developed, so they cannot retain large volumes of information. It is, therefore, essential for the teacher to allocate enough time for children to relax their minds.

Since they cannot concentrate for a long period of time, the teacher should have several breaks in between the classes during which children should go to the field and play. The teacher should accompany them and be in charge. The teacher directs the children during the activity (Su & Yang, 2022). In addition to plays, children can also engage in dances and songs, mainly aimed at refreshing the mind.

Children should be taught how to conduct the songs themselves. Finally, other forms of entertainment, like watching television, can be of great help. The teacher should ensure that the programs enhance the academic work of the children.

In the modern world, people are always striving to find solutions to their problems. Technology is a major problem-solving tool in education, increasing academic skills, reducing the number of school dropouts, and discouraging racial discrimination in schools. Improvements in technology have made it easier for teachers to execute their duties.

Studies have shown that children in the modern world know much more than children of their age some time ago. Current generations are more advanced than the previous ones (Su & Yang, 2022). For instance, children can easily access books of all kinds whenever they need them in libraries, helping in the rapid and easy expansion of knowledge.

The use of computers, tablets, laptops, and smartphones has increased rapidly in childhood education programs. Through technology, the qualities of educational programs have been modified in interesting ways. Computers are used by teachers to teach children and keep records of class performance. Children between the ages of three and eight effectively use computers today. Now that children know how to make use of the above electronics, they have a lot of information at their fingertips. For instance, they only need to “Google” on the computer and search for answers to their questions.

For children whose parents own computers at home, they have a greater advantage because they can access computer services at home. Some mobile phones can also be networked and provide similar services. The media has improved early childhood education. Modern television channels offer more quality programs than traditional ones (Timmons et al., 2021). There are many educational programs displayed on different channels for children to watch. There are so many that children can never watch them all. The radio offers educational programs for children in which children are allowed to answer questions.

For instance, the questions are asked by the radio presenter, and children answer through a phone call. The presenter then says whether the child is right, and if not, he provides the correct answer (Macrides et al., 2021). The knowledge is passed to all children who happen to be listening, making this a way of enhancing education. Other technological advancements that have eased early childhood education include the use of printers, scanners, digital cameras, and video recorders.

Blake and Taylor argue that the application of technology in early childhood education will increase even in the future. However, less fortunate children from poor families will be disadvantaged (Macrides et al., 2021). These electronics are very expensive, and accessing and using them will be difficult for children from poor families. Improvement in technology is likely to increase immorality rates among school children.

The more children know how to operate computers, the more they will get in touch with sites not fit for their stage. Research has shown that many children visit pornographic sites on computers. As much as technology is going to affect early childhood education positively, it will also have its side effects.

There are many challenges that children encounter during their studies, which should be well-known to their teachers and other educational employees who interact with them directly. These individuals are the right people to determine the areas that require improvements. In order for children to learn well, their physical, social, emotional, and learning needs should be met. Failure to satisfy one of these needs makes it hard for the child to study effectively. The performance of children improves when they are encouraged and supported by adults. Teachers should ensure that they make the necessary improvements to help children succeed in their studies whenever they identify points of weakness among students.

Among the challenges facing early childhood education is the lack of enough funds. Early childhood education is mainly offered in the private sector at very high costs. Lack of finance makes it hard for some parents to enroll their children in schools. Accessibility of such institutions may be a challenge. People may have to travel for long distances before getting to the learning institution.

Other challenges include lateness at school, a lot of homework given to children that cannot be completed overnight, competition in class, lack of enough playing grounds, competition with neighboring schools, and lack of enough sleep for children.

The list of controversial issues in early childhood education is long. Some of the debatable issues include whether young children should use computers, whether viewing television leads to violent behavior among children, whether homework improves the performance of children, and finally, the correct age at which young children should join kindergarten, among other issues.

The study of developmental stages of young children is a vital topic. I personally chose the topic because I like interacting with young children and helping them whenever it’s necessary.

My desire is to see children live comfortably and succeed in their studies, and that’s why I have chosen to pursue a course in early childhood education, which will help me understand the concept better. My goal is to see that I help children pursue and succeed in their studies once I become a professional in the field.

Cascio, E. U. (2021). Early childhood education in the united states: What, when, where, who, how, and why . NBER.

Jalongo, M. R. (2021). The effects of COVID-19 on early childhood education and care: Research and resources for children, families, teachers, and teacher educators . Early Childhood Education Journal, 49 .

Macrides, E., Miliou, O., & Angeli, C. (2021). Programming in early childhood education: A systematic review . International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction , 100396.

Redondo, B., Cózar-Gutiérrez, R., González-Calero, J. A., & Sánchez Ruiz, R. (2019). Integration of augmented reality in the teaching of English as a foreign language in early childhood education . Early Childhood Education Journal .

Su, J., & Yang, W. (2022). Artificial intelligence in early childhood education: A scoping review . Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 3 , 100049.

Timmons, K., Cooper, A., Bozek, E., & Braund, H. (2021). The impacts of COVID-19 on early childhood education: Capturing the unique challenges associated with remote teaching and learning in K-2 . Early Childhood Education Journal, 49 (5).

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21 Early Childhood Education Essay Topics (Best Titles)

During your studies, the time to write an essay on early childhood education may come. We’ve compiled a list of good and creative early childhood education essay topics to help you fasten the process.

What is Early Childhood Education?

Early childhood education is described as education combined with child care services provided to young people from the time they are born until they reach the age of eight. When it comes to early childhood education, children participate in a variety of educational environments throughout their early childhood years. Whenever someone learns that you are a student majoring in education, they can’t help but wonder why you want to become a teacher. Isn’t it true that teachers are underpaid?

Due to their enthusiasm for all aspects of teaching, most aspiring teachers are completely immersed in the world of education before enrolling in even the first college course in their field. Consequently, many teacher candidates have difficulty narrowing their emphasis on a particular issue to do research for their thesis paper as a result of this. Fortunately, there is a diverse range of domains available within the field of education from which to pick from. When picking a field to investigate more, think about what motivates you the most as an instructor and how you can benefit from studying more about a specific issue in greater depth.

Early Childhood Education Essay Topics

When writing an essay on the importance of early childhood education, here are some of the best topics you can choose from.

1. How does poverty impact a child’s education?

In addition to the kid’s health and nutrition, parental mental and physical participation, a facilitating family environment, child care, as well as neighborhood and school environments, poverty can have an impact on a child’s developmental trajectory. As a result of these variables, a kid may develop feelings of self-doubt, disinterest, and inability to create a healthy educational environment.

So, what steps can we take to begin providing outreach to these stunted children? In order to address the numerous variables that contribute to the educational stagnation of low-income students, several alternatives must be explored.

To lessen or remove the financial divide between education and students, we must first ensure that funding is directly responsive to the needs of students and educational institutions.

I’ve witnessed personally the dearth of books, as well as outdated and usable technology, available to pupils. It is impossible to expect students to recall all of the necessary curriculum if they are not provided with adequate resources in school. If our own instructors are not equipped with the necessary resources to educate, how can we expect to prosper when presented with the opportunity to pursue higher education?

2. The use of Technology in early childhood learning.

There is a great deal of disagreement in the educational community about the use of electronics and multimedia in the classroom, particularly when it comes to early childhood education. Should children as young as three years old be allowed to use computers? What is the appropriate age for a youngster to learn how to use an iPad before learning how to use the bathroom on his or her own? When doing this research, researchers would look not only at the past, but also at the future, as technology becomes increasingly pervasive in children’s daily life. In light of the fact that these ideas are relatively new to the field of education, any research that is conducted on the benefits of using technology in the classroom will assist to define the future of teaching in contemporary society.

3. The relationship between early childhood education and literary skills in high school.

As a small child grows, his or her environment has a significant impact on the abilities that he or she acquires.  The emergent literacy skills, that comprise phonological awareness, narrative awareness, alphabet knowledge, print concepts, vocabulary, and oral language, are part of the critical skills that will help these young learners prepare for their future.

It is possible to acquire these abilities through the home environment and early childhood school environments. Before kindergarten, children’s emergent literacy abilities are established, and they are predictive of a child’s later success in reading. There are a variety of elements that can influence whether or not a youngster is able to develop reading abilities.

4. Should the federal and state governments improve funding of early childhood learning?

Technology grants and philanthropic foundations are available to assist underserved communities. Because of its more user-friendly platforms, Apple initially had a monopoly on the market for educational applications of technology. For many educators, Apple continues to be the favored choice because of the discounts and additional possibilities that the company provides to its customers. Because of the numerous cross-platform software packages that have been produced, both Macintosh and Microsoft settings are increasingly being given equal access to current educational environments. Education decision-makers should remember that the future is unpredictable and that today’s smart buy may wind up on tomorrow’s garbage heap of obsolete technology, no matter which platform they chose.

5. Adverse Childhood Experiences and their Effects on High School Graduation Rates.

The shocking impact that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have on children and adults was shown in a landmark study that was initially published twenty years ago and has since gained widespread attention. Adults’ exposure to abuse, divorce, substance abuse, and other factors were found to be associated with a number of health risk factors, according to Andra et al (1998).

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study expanded our understanding of the long-term impacts of direct and indirect abuse, as well as the fact that children did not have to be abused themselves in order to suffer serious consequences to their physical, mental, and even social well-being in the long run.

6. The contribution of a child’s socioeconomic background to the success of early education.

In order for a child to acquire the necessary skills, his or her socioeconomic position must be taken into consideration. In addition, the child’s socioeconomic position will influence what resources are accessible at home and whether or not the parent or guardian is able to provide the child with the essential language and literacy exposure because they are constantly at work. Additionally, there are several other elements to consider, such as a child’s language handicap and prior adverse literacy experiences.

Therefore, to that extent, early childhood educators must conduct an in-depth investigation into the child’s family and community relationships in order to provide the best possible care. It is possible to use the outcomes of such investigations to optimize the teaching process and dissipate any negative connotations that may be detrimental to the child’s development.

On the other side, both the family and the community can work together to ensure the child’s future success in school and in the workplace. As a result, the educator must work to foster positive relationships with parents and members of the community for the children in his or her care.

7. Examining the benefits of daycare to young children

Early childhood educators, of course, are well aware of the significance of their work. Despite the fact that individuals may intuitively understand the relevance of early childhood education programs, research on the benefits of such programs places a quantifiable value on their significance, which has implications for funding. Participation in early education programs can have a variety of consequences for a kid.

Conducting longitudinal study on the potential future success of children in higher grades is essential to fully comprehending how a primary teacher’s efforts can result in long-term advantages for her students. This research can be done in a variety of ways.

The recognition of these consequences motivates teachers to do their best work every day and to constantly improve their approaches.

8. Does attending preschool improve a child’s vocabulary?

Following the completion of quality preschools, children have stronger self-regulation behavior and academic skills than their counterparts who do not participate in preschool. This is according to some new studies.

• Perks such as expanded vocabulary developed through socialization with other youngsters and a love of reading can provide children an advantage throughout their academic lives.
• By the time they reach high school, children who attend preschools where instructors receive additional training can still make academic gains of up to a quarter of a letter grade.
• With the start of a new school year in full swing, parents of preschool-aged children may be wondering whether or not sending their children to preschool makes a significant impact in their children’s development.

9. Contribution of early childhood learning to the cognitive development of young children.

In addition to assisting children in developing their individual cognitive, physical, emotional, and social skills, childhood care providers also assist instructors in responding to the unique requirements of each child in their care. One of the most important responsibilities of childhood care providers is to prepare children for school through curricula that assist children in developing their individual cognitive, physical, emotional, and social skills, and at the same time helps instructors respond to the unique requirements of each child in their care.

In this scenario, cognitive development is particularly important, since it provides youngsters with knowledge of topics such as measuring and patterns, forms and numbers, and counting strategies, among other things. The most effective way for children to develop in this area is through play.

As an example, a report from the Manitoba Early Learning and Childhood Curriculum Framework proposes that children’s cognitive and intellectual skills be developed through relevant activities – such as allowing them to experiment with a range of cardboard boxes and tube shapes.

10. The practices of early childhood teachers related to the use of dramatic play in learning environment.

A surprising finding from the research is that there is no single early childhood method that is intrinsically superior; rather, what matters most is that children are exposed to educational opportunities at the earliest feasible age. In spite of the fact that no single curriculum or pedagogical approach can be determined to be the most effective, children who participate in carefully planned, high-quality early childhood programs in which curriculum aims are specified and integrated across domains tend to learn more and are better prepared to master the complex demands of formal schooling.”

More essay topics on Early Childhood Education

11. The effects of school district policies on preventing maltreatment among early childhood learners.

12. The impacts of politics on the success of early childhood learning programs.

13. Exploring the problems of measuring the efficacy of ECE programs such as Head Start.

14. Evaluating the progress and transformation of early childhood learning.

15. Approaches to make early childhood curriculum effective.

16. What are the challenges facing early childhood learning in modern America?

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Becoming a Teacher: What I Learned about Myself During the Pandemic

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Introduction to the Article by Andrew Stremmel

Now, more than ever, we need to hear the voices of preservice teachers as well as in-service teachers during this pandemic. How has the pandemic affected them? In what ways has the pandemic enabled them to think about the need to really focus on what matters, what’s important? What were the gains and losses? These are very important questions for our time.  In this essay, Alyssa Smith, a senior studying early childhood education, attempts to address the lessons learned from her junior year, focusing on the positive aspects of her coursework and demonstrating an imaginative, growth mindset. This essay highlights the power of students’ reflection on their own learning. But I think it does so much more meaningful contemplation than we might expect of our students in “normal” times. Alyssa gains a new appreciation for this kind of active reflection—the opportunity to think more critically; to be more thoughtful; to stop, step back, catch her breath, and rethink things. As a teacher educator and her mentor, I believe this essay represents how the gift of time to stop and reflect can open space to digest what has been experienced, and how the gift of reflective writing can create a deeper level of thinking about how experiences integrate with one’s larger narrative as a person.

About the Author

Andrew Stremmel, PhD, is professor in early childhood education at South Dakota State University. His research is in teacher action research and Reggio Emilia-inspired, inquiry-based approaches to early childhood teacher education. He is an executive editor of  Voices of Practitioners .  

I’ve always known I was meant to be a teacher. I could feel my passion guide my work and lead my heart through my classes. So why did I still feel as if something was missing? During the fall of my junior year, the semester right before student teaching, I began to doubt my ability to be a great teacher, as I did not feel completely satisfied in my work. What I did not expect was a global pandemic that would shut down school and move all coursework online. I broke down. I wanted to do more than simply be a good student. I wanted to learn to be a great teacher. How was I supposed to discover my purpose and find what I was missing when I couldn’t even attend my classes? I began to fret that I would never become the capable and inspirational educator that I strived to be, when I was missing the firsthand experience of being in classrooms, interacting with children, and collaborating with peers.

It wasn’t until my first full semester being an online student that I realized the pandemic wasn’t entirely detrimental to my learning. Two of my early childhood education courses, Play and Inquiry and Pedagogy and Curriculum, allowed limited yet meaningful participation in a university lab school as well as engagement with problems of substance that require more intense thinking, discussion, analysis, and thoughtful action. These problems, which I briefly discuss below, presented challenges, provocations, possibilities, and dilemmas to be pondered, and not necessarily resolved. Specifically, they pushed me to realize that the educational question for our time is not, “What do I need to know about how to teach?” Rather, it is, “What do I need to know about myself in the context of this current pandemic?” I was therefore challenged to think more deeply about who I wanted to be as a teacher and who I was becoming, what I care about and value, and how I will conduct myself in the classroom with my students.

These three foundations of teaching practice (who I want to be, what I value, and how I will conduct myself) were illuminated by a question that was presented to us students in one of the very first classes of the fall 2020 semester: “What’s happening right now in your experience that will help you to learn more about yourself and who you are becoming?” This provocation led me to discover that, while the COVID-19 pandemic brought to light (and at times magnified) many fears and insecurities I had as a prospective teacher, it also provided me with unique opportunities, time to reflect, and surprising courage that I feel would not otherwise have been afforded and appreciated.

Although I knew I wanted to be a teacher, I had never deliberately pondered the idea of what kind of teacher I wanted to be. I held the core values of being an advocate for children and helping them grow as confident individuals, but I still had no idea what teaching style I was to present. Fortunately, the pandemic enabled me to view my courses on play and curriculum as a big “look into the mirror” to discern what matters and what was important about becoming a teacher.

As I worked through the rest of the course, I realized that this project pushed me to think about my identity as an educator in relation to my students rather than simply helping me understand my students, as I initially thought. Instead, a teacher’s identity is formed in relation to or in relationship with our students: We take what we know about our students and use it to shape ourselves and how we teach. I found that I had to take a step back and evaluate my own perceptions and beliefs about children and who I am in relation to them. Consequently, this motivated me to think about myself as a classroom teacher during the COVID-19 pandemic. What did I know about children that would influence the way I would teach them?

I thought about how children were resilient, strong, and adaptable, possessing an innate ability to learn in nearly any setting. While there were so many uncertainties and fear surrounding them, they adapted to mask-wearing, limited children in the classroom, and differentiated tasks to limit cross-contamination. Throughout, the children embodied being an engaged learner. They did not seem to focus on what they were missing; their limitless curiosity could not keep them from learning. Yet, because young children learn primarily through relationships, they need some place of learning that helps them to have a connection with someone who truly knows, understands, and cares about them. Thus, perhaps more than any lesson, I recognized my relationship with children as more crucial. By having more time to think about children from this critical perspective, I felt in my heart the deeper meaning children held to me.

My compassion for children grew, and a greater respect for them took shape, which overall is what pushed me to see my greater purpose for who I want to be as an educator. The pandemic provided time to develop this stronger vision of children, a clearer understanding of how they learn, and how my identity as a teacher is formed in relationship with children. I don’t think I would have been able to develop such a rich picture of how I view children without an in-depth exploration of my identity, beliefs, and values.

In my curriculum course, I was presented a different problem that helped me reflect on who I am becoming as an educator. This was presented as a case study where we as students were asked the question, “Should schools reopen amidst the COVID-19 pandemic?” This was a question that stumped school districts around the nation, making me doubt that I would be able to come up with anything that would be remotely practical. I now was experiencing another significant consequence of the pandemic: a need for new, innovative thinking on how to address state-wide academic issues. My lack of confidence, paired with the unknowns presented by the pandemic, made me feel inadequate to take on this problem of meaning.

To address this problem, I considered more intentionally and reflectively what I knew about how children learn; issues of equity and inequality that have led to a perceived achievement gap; the voices of both teachers and families; a broader notion of what school might look like in the “new normal”; and the role of the community in the education of young children. Suddenly, I was thinking in a more critical way about how to address this problem from the mindset of an actual and more experienced teacher, one who had never faced such a conundrum before. I knew that I had to design a way to allow children to come back into a classroom setting, and ultimately find inspiration for learning in this new normal. I created this graphic (above) to inform families and teachers why it is vital to have students return to school. As a result, I became an educator. I was now thinking, feeling, and acting as a teacher. This case study made me think about myself and who I am becoming as a teacher in a way that was incredibly real and relevant to what teachers were facing. I now found inspiration in the COVID-19 pandemic, as it unlocked elements of myself that I did not know existed.

John Dewey (1916) has been attributed to stating, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” Learning may begin in the classroom, but it does not end there. Likewise, teaching is not a role, but a way of being. The ability to connect with children and to engage them meaningfully depends less on the methods we use than on the degree to which we know and trust ourselves and are willing to share that knowledge with them. That comes through continually reflecting on who we are in relation to children and their families, and what we do in the classroom to create more meaningful understanding of our experiences. By embodying the role of being an educator, I grew in ways that classroom curriculum couldn't prepare me for. Had it not been for the pandemic, this might not have been possible.

Dewey, J. 1916. Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education . New York: MacMillan.

Alyssa Marie Smith  is currently an early childhood education student studying at South Dakota State University. She has been a student teacher in the preschool lab on campus, and now works as a kindergarten out of school time teacher in this same lab school. In the fall, she plans to student teach in an elementary setting, and then go on to teach in her own elementary classroom.

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The first eight years of a child's life are a marvel of nature, a period during which the cornerstone for all future learning and growth is meticulously laid. This transformative phase witnesses the rapid expansion of the brain, forging innumerable neural connections that shape a child's cognitive, social, and emotional capacities. As caregivers and parents, it becomes our paramount duty to cultivate an environment that fosters this pivotal stage of early brain development.

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Tunde Onakoya, 29, a Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate, plays a chess game in Times Square, Friday, April 19, 2024 in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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Tunde Onakoya, a Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate, plays a chess game in Times Square, Friday, April 19, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Tunde Onakoya, center, Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate, plays a chess game in Times Square, Friday, April 19, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Tunde Onakoya, right, a Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate, plays a chess game in Times Square, Friday, April 19, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

NEW YORK (AP) — A Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate played chess nonstop for 60 hours in New York City’s Times Square to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.

Tunde Onakoya, 29, hopes to raise $1 million for children’s education across Africa through the record attempt that began on Wednesday.

He had set out to play the royal game for 58 hours but continued until he reached 60 hours at about 12:40 a.m. Saturday, surpassing the current chess marathon record of 56 hours, 9 minutes and 37 seconds, achieved in 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad.

The Guinness World Record organization has yet to publicly comment about Onakoya’s attempt. It sometimes takes weeks for the organization to confirm any new record.

Onakoya played against Shawn Martinez, an American chess champion, in line with Guinness World Record guidelines that any attempt to break the record must be made by two players who would play continuously for the entire duration.

Support had been growing online and at the scene, where a blend of African music kept onlookers and supporters entertained amid cheers and applause. Among the dozens who cheered Onakoya on at the scene was Nigerian music star Davido.

The record attempt is “for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education,” said Onakoya, who founded Chess in Slums Africa in 2018. The organization wants to support the education of at least 1 million children in slums across the continent.

“My energy is at 100% right now because my people are here supporting me with music,” Onakoya said Thursday evening after the players crossed the 24-hour mark.

On Onakoya’s menu: Lots of water and jollof rice, one of West Africa’s best-known dishes.

For every hour of game played, Onakoya and his opponent got only five minutes’ break. The breaks were sometimes grouped together, and Onakoya used them to catch up with Nigerians and New Yorkers cheering him on. He even joined in with their dancing sometimes.

A total of $22,000 was raised within the first 20 hours of the attempt, said Taiwo Adeyemi, Onakoya’s manager.

“The support has been overwhelming from Nigerians in the U.S., global leaders, celebrities and hundreds of passersby,” he said.

Onakoya’s attempt was closely followed in Nigeria , where he regularly organizes chess competitions for young people living on the streets.

More than 10 million school-age children are not in school in the West African country — one of the world’s highest rates.

Among those who have publicly supported him are celebrities and public office holders, including Nigeria’s former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who wrote to Onakoya on the social media platform X, “Remember your own powerful words: ‘It is possible to do great things from a small place.’”

This version corrects that Osinbajo is Nigeria’s former vice president, not current vice president.

Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria.

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Beloved Bunny’s Death Shows How Libraries Help Parents

Libraries can work hand-in-hand with parents to serve as places we turn to when we are at a loss for words during life’s most challenging moments. .

Ms . Classroom wants to hear from educators and students being impacted by legislation attacking public education, higher education, gender, race and sexuality studies, activism and social justice in education, and diversity, equity and inclusion programs  for our series, ‘ Banned! Voices from the Classroom .’ Submit pitches and/or op-eds and reflections (between 500-800 words) to  Ms . contributing editor Aviva Dove-Viebahn at  [email protected] . Posts will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Libraries across the country are facing censorship issues , angry protests and laws limiting their ability to fulfill their missions, including in my home state of Kentucky . I visited my local library to talk to librarians about the debates surrounding them and their books as indoctrinators of children at the expense of parents’ rights.

Critics of libraries have it wrong. Libraries aren’t threatening parents’ rights. They are protecting them . The death of a beloved library bunny can tell us how, rather than forcing children to think a certain way, libraries help us find our words in life’s most challenging moments. 

This is when I learned about Lily. 

How Librarians Prepared Children for Lily’s Death

Lily the bunny sat in a hutch just to the right of the youth section’s circulation desk and near the door to the storytime room, so children had plenty of opportunities to get to know her.

A few weeks before I started talking with my local librarians, Lily died. Even when dealing with their own sadness, the librarians acted promptly to make sure they were on the same page and had the right words to help parents support their children in the wake of Lily’s death.

They met and considered carefully what they would say. Did Lily “go to a farm”? No. It did not feel right to lie to children. Did Lily die? No. It also did not feel right to introduce children to death if parents wanted to be in control of that conversation.  The librarians settled on the idea that “Lily had retired.” They prepared a resource page to hand to parents with lists of children’s books that talked about grief and death, along with websites that parents could consult if they chose to do so.

Their approach was to do everything they could to prepare for the inevitability that children would notice Lily was gone, while also giving parents total control over any conversations about death.

“That way, it’s up to each parent, if they want to have that conversation about death with their kids or not,” one librarian told me. “Telling people that she retired … that has been hard enough, I don’t want to tell hundreds of kids and have that conversation with every single kid … I want that to be their guardians’ conversation.”

Their approach was to do everything they could to prepare for the inevitability that children would notice Lily was gone while also giving parents total control over any conversations about death.

The previous librarian continued, “What you don’t see is all the behind-the-scenes work of how we had that conversation about what to do about the rabbit. … Parents don’t know that we really did think about it, and like tossed around a lot of options of wording before we came up with that. But we did. … I wish people operated more on the assumption of the library is trying its best.”

Libraries: More Than Just Books

At a time when libraries have been in the news as threats to parental rights and as sources of inappropriate knowledge , I was struck by what Lily’s story could teach us about a library’s efforts to defend those very rights and the role that libraries play in our communities as places we turn to when we are at a loss for words during life’s most challenging moments.  Lily the bunny’s passing was not the only time my librarians had to deal with loss and grief. One librarian told me of a father who, immediately after his wife’s death, drove straight to the library with his two children because he did not know what else to do. “He said, ‘I really need you to help me.’ And I don’t even remember how I navigated that, but somehow, we did.”

This same librarian recalled when a child passed away who was a regular at the storytime she led every week. She attended this child’s funeral. When it was time for the closing hymn, she recollected, “They sang the goodbye song from storytime. There was the song that we sang every storytime at the end—that was the goodbye song. Every storytime we did the same one. Those kids got up there, and they started singing the goodbye song from storytime. And I lost it. I just wept.”

Helping parents and children find their words during moments of loss and grief is just one example of, to use one librarian’s phrase, “life critical services” that librarians and libraries provide. 

Books, and their stewards, equip us with the words we lack; they show us there is a better tomorrow on the other side of today’s tragedy.

Thinking back on my childhood, I do not remember a lot of books, but I do remember one: My parents used to read me  Runaway Bunny , which shows children how far a parent will go to bring them home safely.

Bunnies, in fact, have long been teaching children life lessons about growing up, love, and, of course, loss.

• Little Nutbrown Hare in  Guess How Much I Love You —a book I have read to my children probably a thousand times—teaches children the depth of a parent’s love. 
• Peter Rabbit  shows children that parents are unwavering in their love, no matter how naughty they may be. 
• The Velveteen Rabbit , through the story of a boy, sickness, and his stuffed bunny, reminds us that we are all made real through the love of others.

The world’s problems do not go away if we simply choose not to face them. Hard conversations become harder later if we choose to avoid them. And no one would fault a parent for wanting to shield a child from problems and be the person to whom their children turn when they have tough questions. What’s being misunderstood at the moment is that librarians want this for parents and children, too.  

Even Lily, the beloved library pet, continues, in death, to empower parents and their children to find their words.

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