ERIC Number: EJ1313297
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1838-0689
EISSN: N/A
Dialectics of Preschool Education in the Context of Vygotsky's Cultural-Historical Theory
Veraksa, Nikolay
International Research in Early Childhood Education, v10 n2 p30-42 2020
There are two ways of understanding child development. The first places emphasis on the human cultural dimension. The essential component of culture is a system of cultural norms known as "ideal forms," wherein the adult acts as a bearer of these ideal forms or culture. From this standpoint, the child acquires already established forms (in this sense, old norms). The second approach is based on understanding the child's infinite and unlimited capabilities. The realization of such opportunities, due to their unlimited nature, involves going beyond the zone of proximal development. This requires conceptualizing a different space, oriented to new forms of culture that are not yet in existence--the space of child realization. The orientation of this space is the opposite to that of the zone of proximal development: instead of an old norm being acquired (i.e., the adaptation of the child to their culture) the goal for an adult is, in the space of child realization, to help the child realize their intent by creating new elements of culture.
Descriptors: Preschool Education, Preschool Children, Child Development, Social Theories, Learning Theories, Self Actualization, Cognitive Development, Social Environment
Monash University Faculty of Education. McMahons Road, Frankston, Victoria, Australia 3199. e-mail: edu-irece@monash.edu; Web site: http://www.monash.edu/education/research/publications/journals/irece
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A