In the book, Curious George rides a bike by H.A. Rey, George receives a new bike
from his friend. His friend tells him to be careful with his new bike and to
keep close to the house while he is gone. George does not listen to his friend
and decides to go exploring away from the house. While exploring, George sees
two boys playing with their toy boats and then decides that he wants to play
with a toy boat. George made a plan (how to make the boat) and then he carried
out the task. George made himself a boat out of newspaper. This is an example of
stage two, 1-3 years, Erikson. In stage two, children express their growing self
control by climbing, touching, exploring, and try to do things for themselves.
(Dennis Coon) Though most children in stage two would be exploring their kitchen
floor, or ceiling, not a river! I also read the story, Curious George gets a
medal by H.A. Rey. In this story George makes a mess in his friends house.
George is anxious to clean up the mess before his friend gets home. The reason
that he is so eager to clean up the mess is because he is thinking about the
possible consequences of his actions. If this were an actual little boy, he
would be thinking, I don`t want to get punished, so I will clean up the mess.
Or, Oh, No! I`m going to get into big trouble! This is an example of Stage 1 the
preconventional level, Kohlberg. If his friend weren`t coming home would George
work so vigorously to clean up the mess? I think not. In the second half of the
book, George is asked to help a professor in a somewhat dangerous experiment.
The professor that has asked this of him says, Of course everything will be
forgiven if you are willing to go. (George got into a bit of trouble while he
was there.) George agrees to this request because he wants to please others.
George wants to be nice. Why would a child want to please others? It`s because
they are trying to avoid disapproval. This is an example of Stage 3, the
conventional level, Kohlberg. The last book that I read was Curious George by
H.A. Rey. George is taken from his home in Africa, to a big ship. His friend
tells him to run along and play but don`t get into any trouble. George promises
to be good. George found some sea gulls on the deck, and saw that they could
fly. He wanted to fly too. George tried to fly, and fell into the ocean instead.
Obviously, George is not thinking logically. He does not realize that he can not
fly. This is an example of the preoperational stage, 2-7 years. Piaget. I have
another example of the preoperational stage not related to the book. My little
sister, ZoК, is 4 years old. My mother recently bought her a personalized
song tape. In the beginning of the tape it asks her to yell out her name. She
screams, ZoК!!. Then it says ZoК?! That`s a nice name! Throughout
the tape her name is included in all of the songs. She thinks that the person
talking can really here her! Now, getting back on track. After falling into the
ocean George is rescued and once again promises that he will not get into any
more trouble. Why would an actual child decide this if he/she were in the same
situation? They would act this way because they would be thinking about their
own needs. They wouldn't want to fall into the water again or be upset in any
way. This is an example of stage two, the preconventional stage,
pleasure-seeking orientation. In conclusion, I have found these stages to hold
true, in my own personal life, and in children`s storybooks. It`s really great
to finally understand why my little sister acts the way she does!