CD 30
CHAPTER 8
Cognitive Development
It is the process of gathering information, organizing it, and understanding concepts.
How do children learn? How do children grow? How do children develop understanding?
At birth, information comes from sensory experiences. As children grow, they start to formulate and
process experiences. “ Learning and thinking supports all areas of development”
Piaget’s stages of cognitive development:
1) Sensorimotor stage (0-2 yrs): reflexes to symbols
2) Preoperational stage (2-7 yrs): symbols to reasoning
3) Concrete operational stage ( 7-11 yrs): logic concrete thinking to relating to time and space
4) Formal operational stage (11 yrs. and older): abstract logical thought to problem solving
Sensorimotor stage (reflexes)
0-1 month= reflexes like crying, sucking, grasping
1-4 months= simple behaviors like reaching, grasping, discover hands
4-8 months= imitation like repetition of movements
8-12 months= intentional movements like pulling, touching
12-18 months= experiments with objects for cause and effect
18-24 months= problem solving and pretend play
Assimilation: taking new information in and processing it.
Accommodation: new information expands and adjusts to previous mental categories.
Object permanence: ability to remember an object or person even though it cannot be seen, touched or
heard.
Interactions with people and obtaining new knowledge is essential for cognitive development. Growth
is gradual and continuous. Quality of development is important for each stage in life. Intentional
experiences are needed for growth and cognitive development.
Vygotsky believed that: Cognitive development comes from social interactions and children start their
understanding of the world. Learning comes from caregivers facilitation. Social interaction is a prerequisite for children to develop problem solving skills.
ZONE OF PROXIMAL DEVELOPMENT: the difference between what children can do on their own and
what they can do with further guidance. independence performance and assisted performance
Pretend play: representation of things through symbols starts around 24 months.
Pre-requisites for cognitive development: security and attachment, responding to child’s needs,
encouraging exploration, problem solving.
Cognitive development (0 to 8 months)
Respond to human voices , Gaze at faces , Look for dropped toy , Try to cause things to happen, Identify
objects from various viewpoints , Find a toy hidden under a blanket when placed there while watching
Cognitive development (9 to 18 months)
Try to build with blocks , Persist in a search for a desired toy when toy is hidden under other objects ,
Use a stick as a tool to obtain a toy , Push away someone or something not wanted
Cognitive development ( 18 months to 3 years)
Help dress and undress themselves , Defining use of many household items , Use names of self and
others , Begin to realize others have rights and privileges