What does "behaviorism" emphasize in early childhood education?

Behaviorism emphasizes observable behaviors and the concept of learning through reinforcement. In early childhood education, this approach focuses on how children can learn new behaviors and skills through interactions with their environment. This learning occurs when positive behaviors are rewarded, leading to an increase in those behaviors, and when negative behaviors are punished or ignored, resulting in a decrease in those behaviors.

By concentrating on observable behaviors, educators can implement specific strategies to shape children's learning experiences, such as using rewards for positive behavior, which is a core principle of behaviorist theory. Consequently, classroom management and instructional methods inspired by behaviorism often include structured environments where behaviors can be easily observed and modified.

This approach contrasts with theories that prioritize internal cognitive processes or emotions. For instance, emphasizing theoretical constructs of the mind or children's feelings focuses less on observable changes in behavior in direct response to reinforcement. Similarly, placing importance on inherent traits shifts away from the behaviorist belief that behavior is primarily learned through external interactions with one's environment.