{"id":19,"date":"2011-10-05T10:13:50","date_gmt":"2011-10-05T16:13:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/cc-1-coping-and-competence-overview\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T21:33:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T21:33:38","slug":"cc-1-coping-and-competence-overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/cc-1-coping-and-competence-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"CC 1. Coping and competence in early childhood"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Unlike many other species, humans begin life as completely dependent creatures. Think about it: a baby calf stands up soon after birth on wobbly legs and seeks its mother\u2019s nipple; other creatures may have a lot or no contact at all with their parents after birth. As Stuart Shanker said in the Brain Development module (BD p. 1) a human baby is essentially a “fetus outside the womb”. We are not equipped with the kind of survival instincts and capacities characteristic of most species. But as we also learned in the Brain Development module, our brains develop exponentially after birth, especially during the first few months and years of life. It is during this time that we establish our capacity to cope with challenges and set the foundation for our abilities to know, to do and to get along with others.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Consider…<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\n18 month old Zehra climbs the stairs to the diaper change table assisted by Darlene, an early childhood educator…Read more<\/a> <\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Physical care is a core part of young children\u2019s daily lives. Repeated routines of daily life are opportunities for children to experience gentleness and for adults to demonstrate skills that children eventually acquire themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Zahra learning from the diaper-changing routine?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is it important that child and caregiver collaborate in this experience?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is the familiar song important?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Coping<\/strong> means adapting to challenges – meeting new people, dealing with frustrations, managing fears and stress – and accommodating to new situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competence<\/strong> is a cluster of related skills, knowledge and abilities. Learning to cope with life’s challenges builds social, emotional, physical and cognitive competencies.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

In the example above, through thoughtful handling of the everyday routine of diaper changing, Zahra is given opportunities to gradually build coping and competence skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the next clip, two-year-old Greta challenges herself by learning to climb up the slide. As you watch, notice how many different ways Greta’s mother supports her developing competence.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n VIEW<\/span>Up the slide (3:15)<\/span> \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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