Includes bibliographical references and index.

Jean Piaget's constructivist theory of learning / Sandra Waite-Stupiansky -- Maria Montessori : yesterday, today and totmorrow / Phyllis Povell -- The Eriksons' psychosocial developmental theory / Elizabeth Jones and Sandra Waite-Stupiansky -- The importance of Urie Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory for early childhood education / Jonathan R.H. Tudge, Elisa A. Mercon-Vargas, Yue Liang, and Ayse Pair -- Vygotskian and post-Vygotskian approach : focusing on "the future child" / Elena Bodrova and Deborah J. Leong -- Learning how to mean : M.A.K. Halliday and the language of early childhood / Jane Torr -- Developing attachment : the theoretical work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth / Doris Bergen -- The educaring approach of Magda Gerber / Ruth Anne Hammond -- T.B. Brazelton's developmental approach to learning / Joshua Sparrow -- The work of B.F. Skinner : effective practices within early childhood settings / Kathleen M. Feeley -- Ole Ivar Lovaas : a legacy of learning for children with disabilities / Emily A. Jones, Sally M. Izquierdo, and Caraline Kobel -- Mikhail Bakhtin : dialogic language and the early years / E. Jayne White -- Educative experiences in early childhood : lessons from Dewey / Denise D. Cunningham and Donna Adair Breault -- The whole world is a chorus : Paulo Freire's influence / Elizabeth P. Quintero -- Working with Deleuze and Guattari in early childhood research and education / Gail Boldt.

"Theories of Early Childhood Education continues to provide a comprehensive overview of the various theoretical perspectives in early childhood education from developmental psychology to critical studies, Piaget to Freire. This revised and updated edition includes additional chapters on Michael Alexander Halliday's view of language learning and the attachment theory work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. Each author questions assumptions underpinning the use of theory in early childhood education and explores the implications of these questions for policy and practice. Theories reported in this book are a timely reminder of the importance of the relationship between theory and practice necessary for teacher candidates, teacher educators, and early childhood teachers. Students will learn the fundamentals while in-service teachers and professionals will learn the theory behind field observations for their certification exams"-- Provided by publisher.