Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact

Rationale/Reflection

NAEYC Standard:
STANDARD 1. PROMOTING CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING.
Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs are grounded in a child development
knowledge base. They use their understanding of young childrens characteristics and needs, and
of multiple interacting influences on childrens development and learning, to create
environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each child (NAEYC,
2010).
Brief Description of Evidence:
As part of my ECED 120: Child Growth and Development course during the spring semester of
2014, I completed an autobiographical self-study using Erik Eriksons eight stages of
psychosocial development. Focusing on one stage at a time, I described the crisis and positive
and negative outcomes of each, followed by a description of my own personal experiences
throughout each stage.
Analysis of What I Learned:
I learned a thorough description of each of Erik Eriksons psychosocial stages of development,
and had the opportunity to reflect on each of these stages as they represented my own life. I was
able to collaborate with my mother to learn more information about my childhood, during the
earliest years of life, which I cannot necessarily remember. I learned more detail about my own
childhood, and while I am satisfied with the outcome of several stages, I also recognize that there
are certain stages that could have gone very differently.
How This Artifact Demonstrates My Competence on the NAEYC Standard:
My proficiency in this standard is proven by my ability to evaluate the crisis of each
psychosocial stage of development, identify the classifications that help encourage positive
results as well as potential negative outcomes, and consider different ways I can help guide
children through these crises in the future. I am able to reflect on my own life and distinguish
periods that could have gone much differently, and may have significantly changed the course of
my childhood. Having gained this knowledge allows me to better understand the many struggles
that occur during the early phases of development, and has prepared me to be empathetic and
supportive of my future students as they evolve through these stages. By communicating with
families about each childs particular transitions, I have the ability to empower my students and
to help boost their self-image.