Abstract
One of the important tasks of early childhood educators is to encourage young children to learn to strive and strive to learn. Caregivers are crucial in motivating children to persist at and take pleasure in learning tasks. Some children learn that their feelings are important and their actions are effective. They anticipate success. Their attitude is “I can do it”; “When I try to do something, I can succeed.” They are motivated to become competent. These youngsters are likely to become adults who find pleasure in doing something well, in working and achieving.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Block, J. H., & Block, J. (1980). The role of ego-control and ego-resiliency on the organization of behavior. In A. Collins (Ed.),Minnesota Symposium in Child Psychology (Vol.13, pp. 39–101). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Bower, T. G. R. (1974).Development in infancy. San Francisco: Freeman.
Brophy, J., & Good, T. (1974).Teacher-student relationship: Causes and consequences. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Crandall, V. J., Katkovsky, W., & Preston, A. (1962). Motivational and ability determinants of young childrens' intellectual achievement behaviors.Child Development, 33 643–661.
Harlow, H. F. (1958). The nature of love.American Psychologist, 13 673–685.
Hess, R., & Shipman, V. (1967). Parents as teachers: How lower and middle class mothers teach. In C. S. Lavatelli & F. Stendler (Eds.)Readings in child behavior and development (3rd ed.). New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Honig, A. S. (1982).Playtime learning games for young children. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press.
Honig, A. S. (1989). Talk, read, joke, make friends: Language powers for children.Day Care and Early Education, 16(4), 14–17.
Honig, A. S., & Caldwell, B. M. (1974). Review of APPROACH.Classroom Interaction Newsletter, 4 19–31.
Schaffer, R. (1977).Mothering. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Sroufe, A. C. (1983). Infant caregiver attachment and patterns of adaptation in preschool: The roots of maladaptation and competence. In M. Perlmutter (Ed.),Minnesota Symposium in Child Psychology (Vol. 16). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Stern, D. (1985).The interpersonal world of the infant. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Watson, J. S. (1979). Perception of contingency as a determinant of social responsiveness. In E. Thomas (Ed.),The origins of social responsiveness. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Additional information
Alice Sterling Honig teaches at Syracuse University in the Department of Child and Family Studies, College for Human Development, in Syracuse, NY. She is an editorial board member of Day Care & Early Education.Therese W. Lansburgh is Chair of the Maryland Committee for Children and an advocate for families and children at the state and national levels.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Honig, A.S., Lansburgh, T.W. The tasks of early childhood — Part I: The will to try. Early Childhood Educ J 18, 4–10 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01620441
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01620441