This assignment requires you to draw on your learning in relation to ‘images of childhood’ and contemporary approaches to early childhood education, and respond to a statement in the form of an expository essay.

Your essay should include the following:
1. An introduction where you introduce the statement, state what you intend to cover in the essay, provide the information the reader will need to understand the topic and state how you will explore the statement, supported with evidence, in your body paragraphs.
2. A body where you outline how socio-cultural constructions of the image of the child have impacted on early childhood education in the past:
o Outline how socio-cultural constructions of the image of the child have impacted on early childhood education in the past.
o Identify and compare key perspectives and approaches explored in the unit learning materials that complement and contradict this statement. For instance: Montessori and Reggio Emilia, Froebel, Steiner.
o Discuss and reflect on how the contemporary image of the child presented in the essay statement might impact on teaching and learning in early childhood education.