Teachers also need to understand the theories of John Bowlby (attachment) Abraham Maslow (hierarchy of needs), Howard Gardner (multiple intelli- (maturationist gences), Arnold Gesell (gradients of growth), Maria Montessori theory), Erik Erikson (psycho-social (sociocultural theory), Lev Vygotsky development). An understanding theory), and Jean Piaget (stages of intellectual characteristics of children from infancy through eight years of the developmental of age allows teachers to successfully prepare materials and activities for young children (Henniger 1999: 107)