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Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................3
The viewpoints on Barney and Takalani in psychology......................................................................3
Milestones of life...........................................................................................................................3
The dissection of television in developing children...........................................................................4
Theorists of development..................................................................................................................5
Cognitive development with Piaget...............................................................................................6
Fragile key points in development.................................................................................................6
The diverse cultural experiences.......................................................................................................7
The critiques of these shows.............................................................................................................8
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................8
Bibliography...........................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
Among the many dimensions of growth that developmental psychology focuses on is
cognitive, physical, and socioemotional development. This discipline focuses on the
investigation of human growth and the effects of various situations on individuals'
lives. Children's television programmes like Takalani Sesame and Barney & Friends,
which provide engaging and developmentally appropriate educational content, can
be crucial in promoting cognitive and socioemotional growth. To comprehend how
these two programmes to aid in the formation of the many phases of development in
children, this article will examine the perspectives of developmental psychology
ideas and theories of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky.

This essay will explore the views of developmental psychology concepts as well as
theories of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky to comprehend Takalani Sesame and
Barney and Friends, to create an understanding of how these two shows help
develop the different stages of development in children.

The viewpoints on Barney and Takalani in psychology

This branch of psychology focuses on many aspects of growth, such as cognitive,

physical, and socioemotional development. Understanding how development
happens is important because it helps us to better understand people's actions,
ideas, and emotions and in this case, it is used to bring about the information needed
to understand how children’s tv shows would help increase this development as well
as how they change through time. (Cherry, 2010)

Milestones of life

Developmental psychology is significant because it aids in the identification and

comprehension of developmental milestones and challenges that may occur
throughout development. Each milestone is essential for a child’s growth through the
ages of their lifetime, in physical development, both big motor abilities and fine motor
skills are necessary for physical growth. Standing, crawling, and walking are
examples of large motor skills. Precision motions like holding a crayon or a spoon
need fine motor abilities.

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Next on the milestones of development psychology comes the cognitive
developmental stages which include the improvement of reasoning and problem-
solving abilities. This involves the capacity for paying attention, recalling details, and
comprehending causal connections. Then comes a stage that is a critical point in a
child’s development of social and emotional skills, this is called socioemotional
development. This involves the capacity to establish and preserve interpersonal
bonds, communicate and control one's emotions, and grow as a person.
(ScienceDirect, 2023)

In the programme Barney & Friends, Barney, and his buddies study many subjects
and pick some useful life lessons. In this specific episode, Barney and his buddies
go shopping and discover the value of cooperation and sharing, which also
corresponds with the theories on social interaction and how it influences
development. Children's socioemotional development may benefit from the ideals of
collaboration, sharing, and teamwork that are intended to be instilled in them by the
film, and this helps them become functional human beings in society. Children from 2
to 8 years old are the intended audience for the Barney & Friends episode "Shopping
for a Surprise!" Due to the programme's focus on young children, this age range is
common for the majority of its programmes. (Malik & Marwaha., 2022)

Takalani Sesame, another children's show, promotes early childhood development

education. The programme makes use of entertaining techniques to impart social
and emotional development as well as basic fundamentals like numbers, the
alphabet, and shapes. A certain group of preschool-aged children, particularly those
between the ages of 2 and 8, are the target audience for Takalani Sesame. The
content of the programme is created with young children in mind, utilising
straightforward language and ideas. In this stage of their development, children need
to comprehend concepts like diversity, inclusion, and social-emotional learning,
which are highlighted in the programme.

The dissection of television in developing children

The instructional information in the films is relevant and valuable to growing persons
from cultural, psychological, and emotional standpoints. These shows do advocate
for cultural varieties, positive social connections, and emotional control skills, all of
which are necessary for healthy growth, it also encourages good eating habits and -

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physical activity within the show, which can benefit children's physical development,
if the kids participate with the characters. The films present a well-rounded approach
to boosting general development in young children by combining these concepts.

Theorists of development

Two significant developmental psychologists, Jean Piaget, and Lev Vygotsky, put out
several views regarding how children grow. In comparison with Vygotsky's theory,
which places more emphasis on the effect of social and cultural factors on
development, Piaget's theory emphasises the function of cognitive growth in forming
a child's knowledge of the world. Considering that they encourage cognitive,
socioemotional, and physical growth through social interactions and practical
experiences, the themes and ideas portrayed in the films are congruent with both
theories. For instance, Vygotsky's theory of social learning, which emphasises the
significance of learning via social interactions, is congruent with the cooperative and
sharing concepts offered in Barney & Friends. The problem-solving game featured in
Takalani Sesame, however, is in line with Piaget's theory of cognitive development,
which emphasises the significance of hands-on learning and cognitive growth.
According to Piaget, children actively form their own knowledge of the world via their
experiences.

This is consistent with Jean Piaget's cognitive development theory, which proposes
that children actively create their knowledge and understanding of the world through
assimilation and adaptation. The cognitive process of assimilation involves
integrating new knowledge into your own worldview. In essence, you relate new
information to things you already know in order to process and make sense of it.
Assimilation and accommodation are two subprocesses of adaptation, which entail
the kid adjusting to fit the needs of the situation. An idea is accommodated when it is
changed in response to new knowledge. Assimilation and accommodation are both
included under the general category of "adaptation." (Flavell, 1996)

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Cognitive development with Piaget

Piaget's four phases consisted of cognitive development which was sensorimotor,

which fell at the ages of 0–2 years and involved infants and toddlers learning about
the world throughout this period by using their senses and motor skills. They learn
object permanence, which is the knowledge that things exist even when they are
hidden from view. Then came the preoperational from ages 2–7 years. Children go
through this period where they start to use words to represent things and ideas and
develop symbolic thinking. Additionally, they learn how to play pretend.

But their thinking is still egocentric, and they have trouble understanding other
people's viewpoints. The concrete operational for 7–11 years, children get the
capacity to reason coherently about actual occurrences throughout this time. They
also acquire the capacity to comprehend conservation, which is the notion that
certain characteristics of an object endure despite changes in its outward form. This
phase is crucial because it enables kids to hone their problem-solving abilities. The
formal operational from 11 years and further on in the development of the child.
Adolescents learn to think abstractly and use hypothetical reasoning throughout this
phase. (Bredekamp, 2014)

Fragile key points in development

They also improve one's capacity for moral and ethical reflection. This stage is
crucial because it enables teenagers to hone their critical thinking abilities. Piaget felt
that children progressed through these stages in a predetermined order, with each
stage building on the one before it. He brought up the argument that many concepts
are not fully understood by children in these phases until they reach a specific stage
of development. These shows seek to establish cognitive abilities in youngsters by
teaching basic academic ideas in a pleasant and engaging manner. These abilities
are taught to children through songs, games, and interactive activities that keep
them entertained and interested. Takalani Sesame has a substantial influence on
cognitive development since it helps children learn critical intellectual abilities that
are necessary for success in school and beyond. (Bredekamp, 2014)

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In another stage, Takalani Sesame promotes physical development via active play
and movement. By adding physical activities into the narrative, the show encourages
youngsters to get up and exercise. This emphasis on physical development is
necessary for improving gross and fine motor abilities, both of which are important
for children's overall development. Furthermore, the show adheres to Piaget's theory
of cognitive development by presenting activities and concepts that correspond to
the cognitive capacities of children at various stages of development. Children are
encouraged to utilise their imaginations and think imaginatively in the "Think,
Imagine, create" part, for example, which is congruent with Piaget's preoperational
stage. The "Count with Kami" portion, on the other hand, teaches youngsters
fundamental math abilities, which is more suited for Piaget's concrete operational
stage. (David Susman, 2022)

A bigger emphasis on the formal operational stage of development may be lacking in

performance. While the show addresses certain concepts associated with this stage,
such as critical thinking and problem-solving, there may be chances to incorporate
more sophisticated activities and ideas that test children's thinking and reasoning
abilities.

The diverse cultural experiences

The sociocultural theory of development developed by Lev Vygotsky emphasises the

significance of social interaction and cultural background in moulding a child's
learning and development as well as socioemotional development. Vygotsky felt that
children learn best when they are guided by more knowledgeable adults and are
involved in meaningful and relevant activities in their life (socialsci.libretexts, 2021).
He also stressed the value of play in boosting cognitive and socioemotional
development. This emphasis on socioemotional development is critical for assisting
children in developing healthy relationships and emotional regulation skills, and it is
consistent with Vygotsky's theory of sociocultural development, which suggests that
children's cognitive development is closely linked to their social and cultural context.
(MA, 2011)

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Social growth may be seen in Barney and Friends. The term "social development"
describes the changes that take place in children's interactions with others, including
their capacity for interaction, teamwork, and friendship. By encouraging kids to
cooperate and communicate properly, Barney and Friends support social
development. For instance, the characters in the episode "Shopping for a Surprise!"
discover the value of cooperation and sharing in order to accomplish a common
objective. (scanfamilies, 2023)

The critiques of these shows

Looking into the episodes of these two well-known shows, the observer it shows how
kids learn new language phrases as we see in Takalani Sesame and with Barney
and Friends how sharing and interacting are good. One stage within the milestones
of developmental psychology is the physical development of the child. Although we
see kids dancing and singing which are minor movements, in todays society where
technology is all over us and television is used to distract the child for a few minutes
while the parents attend a meeting, it becomes a gateway for kids to get lost in the
entertainment of the show instead of moving around and dancing with the
characters. (Gongala, 2023)

Conclusion
In conclusion, young children's cognitive, socioemotional, and physical development
can benefit from watching children's television. By scrutinising the Takalani Sesame
and Barney & Friends episodes, it becomes clear how both programmes make use
of educational content to impart core ideas and positive social and emotional skills to
kids, promoting their healthy growth and development. The theories of Jean Piaget
and Lev Vygotsky, which emphasise the significance of social interaction, practical
experiences, and cognitive progress in early development, are consistent with the
concepts given in these presentations.

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Bibliography
Bredekamp, S. (2014). Effective practices in early childhood education: Building a . NJ: Pearson:
Upper Saddle River.

Cherry, K. (2010). Everything Psychology Book (2nd Edition). Avon, Massachusetts: Adams Media
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David Susman, P. (2022, december 16). Piaget's 4 Stages of Cognitive Development Explained.
Retrieved from verywellmind: https://www.verywellmind.com/piagets-stages-of-cognitive-
development-2795457

Flavell, J. H. (1996). Piaget’s legacy. Psychological Science,. In J. H. Flavell, Piaget’s legacy.

Psychological Science, (pp. 200-203).

Gongala, S. (2023, march 27). 12 Good And Bad Effects Of Television On Children. Retrieved from
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MA, M. M. (2011). Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. In M. M. MA, Encyclopedia of

Child Behavior and Development (pp. pp 1549–1550). SprinherNature.

Malik, F., & Marwaha., R. (2022). Developmental Stages of Social Emotional Development In
Children. ncbi.

scanfamilies. (2023). Social Development in Children . Retrieved from scanfamilies.org:

https://scanfamilies.org/resource/social-development-in-children/

ScienceDirect. (2023). Developmental Psychology. Retrieved from sciencedirect:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/developmental-psychology

socialsci.libretexts. (2021, february 20). Understanding Social Interaction. Retrieved from

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