Psychology major Samantha Turner, a senior, is glad she decided to minor in early childhood studies at UM-Flint and enjoys observing and assisting preschool kids during her internship at the ECDC.

A senior majoring in psychology at the University of Michigan-Flint, Samantha Turner has learned a lot about psychological disorders, conditions, and behavioral theories.

Preparing to graduate in May, Samantha has worked as a research assistant for her psychology professor, and serves as vice president of the Psychology Club and president of Psi Chi at UM-Flint, the International Honor Society in Psychology.

So what is she doing with a minor in early childhood studies (ECS) at UM-Flint?

“In psychology, you hear about all of the theories, but you don’t really get the practical experience,” Samantha explained. “With this minor, I can apply what I’ve learned from my psychology courses. In psychology, the main focus is on the individual person and the research behind a condition. In early childhood studies, you try to avoid diagnosing and labeling. You learn about biological conditions and developmental stages and you look at all of the factors of the family system that influence the child.”

Children sit in a circle together with teacher Cheryl Henige and psychology senior Samantha Turner (far right) in the ECDC’s Vento Room.

In her psychology coursework, she has studied the current research about certain behaviors, demographics, and other factors that professionals rely on to back up the various kinds of services that families are offered.

Psychology and early childhood studies complement Samantha’s UM-Flint education in light of her career goal. She wants to become a school psychologist.

Samantha interacts with preschoolers making cookies and pie at the ECDC.

The early childhood studies minor has given her valuable opportunities to observe children in school classrooms and, in her case, to take up an internship at the UM-Flint Early Childhood Development Center’s Vento Preschool Room.

The internship has given Samantha excellent experience working directly alongside young children, and observing how they learn, interact, socialize, and resolve conflicts—areas that are covered in depth in the early childhood minor coursework.

“Play impacts learning a lot more than parents realize,” Samantha said. “As problems arise, they figure out how to solve those problems in a less pressured environment at the Center. I love how honest they are.”