Nadine Kristel C. Arraiza
Dr. Linda Mayers-- Developmental Psychology
February 6, 2008
Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development.
(Application of different stages.)
Child #1: The Formal Operational Stage.
My cousin, Juan Priolo Opelanio.-- 13 years old.
(Just some added information: Although he loves the thing that I’ll be talking about later,
if someone from outside the family or some classmate of his asks him about it, he’ll deny
it. He likes it very much, yes, but he likes not being branded as a “loser” more. I believe
that this has something to do with one of the things mentioned in the book: About young
adolescents at this age being so conscious about their “imaginary audience” that they
think everyone out there is judging them.)
He loves anything and everything related with Harry Potter and so that was where
our day revolved. First we re-read some chapters in the book- mostly his favorite parts,
and then we discussed it. After that we played his favorite board game, Harry Potter:
Hogwarts Dueling (for the nth time!). He says he adores that game so much because it
makes him feel like he’s actually experiencing living inside the magical world of wizards.
I chose this activity for quite a few reasons. Mainly it was because I know that
it’s his most favorite thing in the world. Second, it was because I learned that during this
stage, children focuses more on the possibilities rather than the realities. I know that it is
unrealistic that wizards and witches exist but for kids’ in this age, they might think it’s
possible. Lastly, it was because I wanted him to practice his thinking skills. Reading
widens your imagination and broadens your knowledge. I know sporty games and
whatnots are what they’re into at this age but I wanted him to exercise his brain muscles
especially now that he’s going to be entering 9th grade this coming school year.
Child #2: The Concrete Operational Stage.
My ward, Michelle Rose Slavik.-- 8 years old.
(I have been Michelle’s baby-sitter for a little over a month now.)
Chelle and I did the things we would normally do after I pick her up from school.
First we rested- which included munching on some Goldfish crackers and blueberries.
Next was doing her homework. Then we watched the telly for about a few minutes- (an
episode of Spongebob Squarepants on Nickelodeon). Lastly, we had our everyday
“concerts”- we would do role-playings wherein she would pretend to be Disney’s new
kid sensation, Hannah Montana.
I chose to do these activities with her because according to what I’ve read,
children at this age think logically when stimuli are present. I wanted to give her the
right balance of education and fun. I wanted her to look forward to finishing her
assignments so that we could play afterwards.
It was said in the book that; and I quote, “the child is now capable of performing
operations, mental actions such as reversibility, that allow him (her) to reason about the
events that have transpired.”-- While we were doing her Math assignment, there was a
part wherein she needed to put together the equations which were similar with each other(i.e. 9+7=16, 7+9=16, 16-7=9 and 16-9=7.)- Which she completely got right. Another
thing I’ve verified from this theory was that; and I quote again, “child’s thoughts in this
stage is also less egocentric, allowing him (her) to understand that other individual’s
perceptions, beliefs and feelings may differ from his (her) own.” – I saw this in her while
she was talking to her “audience.” She would ask them what song they wanted her to
perform next, she asked one of the kids to “come up on stage” (the bed) when she saw
her crying because her mother was lost and when the “kids” boo-ed her, and she told her
she would give “them” free signed autographs.