EDT304R EXAM NOTES
BY SHERIZE NORTJE
Types of antisocial conduct which manifests in the early childhood years. (5)
Selfishness
Taking possessions from other children
Fibbing
Aggression
Antagonism
Bossiness
Self-absorbed behavior
A wide range of people, groups and institutes are involved in the process of the child’s socialization.
Critically discuss ant two of these agencies with regard to socialization and briefly discuss and explain
how they contribute to the socialization of the child. (10)
Socialization agents: establishing social relationships and learning to live within the boundaries of
societal expectation, and discovering one’s place within the groups all reflect aspects of the child’s
social development. A wide range of people, groups and institutes are involved in the process of
socialization, the most influential are referred to as socialization agents. The socialization agents that
contribute significantly to the young child are the family, peer group, school and daycare and the
mass media.
The family (or the replaced structure in which the child grows up in)
The family has always been the most important socialization agent. The infants contact with family
members is not only more frequent than with other individuals, it is also firmer, warmer and more
emotional. Socialization begins at home where children learn who they are, what their capabilities
are and what they can expect from the community. At home they also learn what society expects
from the within their own culture.
The relationship that the child forms with parents and primarily the mother, is the blueprint for all
relationships. Babies become social when they imitate their parents. During early childhood in
particular, parents are charged with nurturing their babies and maintaining physical closeness and
thereby6 enhancing social interaction. There are various reasons why the family is the ideal place for
socialization. The child is born helpless and needs to be cared for and protected by others and the
family fulfils this role.
Preprimary, formal school and daycare
Apart from the family the preprimary school, formal school or daycare is the most important
socialization agent. In the preprimary and formal school particularly, the child learns which skills and
attitudes are acceptable in society and also what his cultural heritage entails. This becomes the place
where children assimilate values and attitudes by interpreting reactions of adults around them. In
, contrast to social roles learnt at home, those that the child learns in school focus on the broader
community. The child learns what is expected of them as a member of a group, or of the school and
even as a citizen. In the school the child is taught how to obey the rules rather than the person.
The peer group
From the moment a child becomes a learner in a school they are exposed to another socialization
agent namely the peer group. A child’s peers may be thought of as a child’s social equals- other
children who interact with the child at a similar level of complexity who is usually but not necessarily
similar in age to the child. Although the child’s language and play is primarily egocentric, he enjoys
being part of a peer group. In the peer group the child learns to dominate, to protect, to accept
responsibility, to respect the views of others and to be realistic about his own skills and personal
abilities.
The mass media
Mass media plays an extremely important role in the young child’s socialization. Television gives
children a lot of information about the real and imaginary worlds and about human behavior. But
children are not adults and can easily misinterpret what they see and hear. Some children’s programs
do strengthen the values imprinted on the child by other socialization agents. However what they see
on television may also conflict with the values that their cultural group, parents and teachers have
tried to covey. There is no doubt that television is a powerful socialization medium, but on the other
hand it may be detrimental to children who are too heavily exposed to it, but it also has the potential
to make a positive contribution to the community.
Discuss the factors that contribute to the vulnerability of the modern family. (10)
1. Economic: because the family has become an economically independent unit, it experience
great difficulty in unfavorable periods. Should one of the parents lose their jobs; the family
can experience great financial stress.
2. Social vulnerability: because they are not so much part of extended family when personal
problems occur in the family there are no family members to offer support.
3. Emotional vulnerability: because family members are strongly dependent on each other,
intense emotions sometimes surface. This causes severe stress
4. Pedagogical vulnerability: parents have very little support in child-rearing. Social and
emotional vulnerability and also possible family instability play a substantial role. Bond
between parent and children are overemphasized.
5. Vulnerability in terms of role identification: parents work long hours and children don’t
spend much time with them. Also the divorce rate is high. The situation can lead to
insecurity if gender roles are not fulfilled.
BY SHERIZE NORTJE
Types of antisocial conduct which manifests in the early childhood years. (5)
Selfishness
Taking possessions from other children
Fibbing
Aggression
Antagonism
Bossiness
Self-absorbed behavior
A wide range of people, groups and institutes are involved in the process of the child’s socialization.
Critically discuss ant two of these agencies with regard to socialization and briefly discuss and explain
how they contribute to the socialization of the child. (10)
Socialization agents: establishing social relationships and learning to live within the boundaries of
societal expectation, and discovering one’s place within the groups all reflect aspects of the child’s
social development. A wide range of people, groups and institutes are involved in the process of
socialization, the most influential are referred to as socialization agents. The socialization agents that
contribute significantly to the young child are the family, peer group, school and daycare and the
mass media.
The family (or the replaced structure in which the child grows up in)
The family has always been the most important socialization agent. The infants contact with family
members is not only more frequent than with other individuals, it is also firmer, warmer and more
emotional. Socialization begins at home where children learn who they are, what their capabilities
are and what they can expect from the community. At home they also learn what society expects
from the within their own culture.
The relationship that the child forms with parents and primarily the mother, is the blueprint for all
relationships. Babies become social when they imitate their parents. During early childhood in
particular, parents are charged with nurturing their babies and maintaining physical closeness and
thereby6 enhancing social interaction. There are various reasons why the family is the ideal place for
socialization. The child is born helpless and needs to be cared for and protected by others and the
family fulfils this role.
Preprimary, formal school and daycare
Apart from the family the preprimary school, formal school or daycare is the most important
socialization agent. In the preprimary and formal school particularly, the child learns which skills and
attitudes are acceptable in society and also what his cultural heritage entails. This becomes the place
where children assimilate values and attitudes by interpreting reactions of adults around them. In
, contrast to social roles learnt at home, those that the child learns in school focus on the broader
community. The child learns what is expected of them as a member of a group, or of the school and
even as a citizen. In the school the child is taught how to obey the rules rather than the person.
The peer group
From the moment a child becomes a learner in a school they are exposed to another socialization
agent namely the peer group. A child’s peers may be thought of as a child’s social equals- other
children who interact with the child at a similar level of complexity who is usually but not necessarily
similar in age to the child. Although the child’s language and play is primarily egocentric, he enjoys
being part of a peer group. In the peer group the child learns to dominate, to protect, to accept
responsibility, to respect the views of others and to be realistic about his own skills and personal
abilities.
The mass media
Mass media plays an extremely important role in the young child’s socialization. Television gives
children a lot of information about the real and imaginary worlds and about human behavior. But
children are not adults and can easily misinterpret what they see and hear. Some children’s programs
do strengthen the values imprinted on the child by other socialization agents. However what they see
on television may also conflict with the values that their cultural group, parents and teachers have
tried to covey. There is no doubt that television is a powerful socialization medium, but on the other
hand it may be detrimental to children who are too heavily exposed to it, but it also has the potential
to make a positive contribution to the community.
Discuss the factors that contribute to the vulnerability of the modern family. (10)
1. Economic: because the family has become an economically independent unit, it experience
great difficulty in unfavorable periods. Should one of the parents lose their jobs; the family
can experience great financial stress.
2. Social vulnerability: because they are not so much part of extended family when personal
problems occur in the family there are no family members to offer support.
3. Emotional vulnerability: because family members are strongly dependent on each other,
intense emotions sometimes surface. This causes severe stress
4. Pedagogical vulnerability: parents have very little support in child-rearing. Social and
emotional vulnerability and also possible family instability play a substantial role. Bond
between parent and children are overemphasized.
5. Vulnerability in terms of role identification: parents work long hours and children don’t
spend much time with them. Also the divorce rate is high. The situation can lead to
insecurity if gender roles are not fulfilled.
