There are many different beliefs and theories when it comes to the right way to raise a child.

Though there may be some disagreement between these ideas, one thing is always agreed upon- the first years of a childs life will shape their future. Infants and toddlers absorb information like a sponge, and it is important that they receive the right information. Development should be exercised and accessed through all domains on child development; physical, linguistic, adaptive, cognitive, emotional, and social. Ensuring proper measures are taken to meet these developmental standards is crucial, especially in the first three years of a childs life.

B.F. Skinner and Bandura were both popular psychologists, specializing in the field of child development. Skinner, who was also an author, behaviorist, inventor, and philosopher, was a strong disbeliever in the idea of free will. He stressed the importance of rewarding positive behavior and punishing negative behavior. This is what he called Operant Conditioning. A positive behavior is likely to continue if it is followed by a positive enforcer and vice-versa (Fogel 40). Bandura also believed in the concept of reinforcement, but his Social Learning theory also addressed the importance of imitation and modeling in child development. His theory incorporates observational learning with these ideas to describe his view on how children learn (Bandura 33). The ideas of these psychologists are quite similar in many ways, such that Banduras theory branches off of B.F. Skinners. Both theorists believe in consistency, reinforcement, and strong role models. _____________________________________________________________________________________

B.F. Skinner is a renowned psychologist predominately known for his theories on operant conditioning and shaping behaviors, especially that of infants and toddlers. Skinner believed nurture paired with positive and negative reinforcement was the most effective way to teach a child and mold their behavior. Bandura was a distinguished psychologist known for his social learning theories. He believed children learn through imitation, modeling, and positive reinforcement. His theory had three main components1) infants come to control their own behavior, and the behavior of others around them, 2) new behaviors can be acquired almost immediately through observational learning, and 3) the self is an intelligent actor and organizer of information. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Skinner: When a child learns a new skill or behavior, they seek approval from parents of guardians. The reactions they receive help them understand the behavior as good or bad. Bandura: I can agree that children seek approval from adult figures, in that they are the childs model. Most behaviors a child learns come from what they observe from the people around them. The child then imitates this behavior and waits for a reaction.

Skinner: Yes, all behavior is controlled by its consequences. As a caregiver, you are responsible for shaping, molding, and guiding the child. Bandura: While I do agree that it is the parents responsibility to react to these behaviors and guide them in the appropriate direction, I believe most of these behaviors actually come from the parents themselves, good or bad. So it is not up to the caregivers to only reinforce behaviors, but model appropriate behaviors as well.

As you can see, there is both confliction and agreement between these two theorists. The same goes for many other child development theorists. It is important to focus on the overall goal- a strong, happy and healthy child, meeting all developmental standpoints. As a future pediatric occupational therapist, I will encounter many children all at different developmental stages. I must be able to recognize the developmental delays and guide the child towards developmental appropriateness. To do this, I will need to incorporate all of my knowledge on child development and how individual children learn and grow.

Sources: Fogel, Alan. Infant Development: A Topical Approach. Sloan Publishing. 2011.