Changes in cognitive development.
Cognitive Development in Infancy/Toddlerhood (Birth to 3 years old)
- Piaget’s Sensorimotor Stage:
- Infants learn about the world through their senses and motor actions (seeing, touching, tasting, moving).
- Develops the concept of object permanence (understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight).
- Information Processing:
- Attention span is limited, but they are rapidly developing the ability to take in and process information from their environment.
- Memory is developing, but mostly short-term.
- Language Development:
- Begins with cooing, babbling, and progresses to first words and simple phrases.
- By the end of this stage, toddlers may have a vocabulary of 50 or more words.
Speaker Notes Infancy and toddlerhood is a period of rapid cognitive development. Piaget’s sensorimotor stage highlights how infants learn through their senses and motor actions. They begin to develop the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot see them (object permanence). Information processing abilities are rapidly developing, with infants taking in and processing a vast amount of information from their surroundings. Language development is a hallmark of this stage, progressing from cooing and babbling to the use of simple words and phrases.
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Cognitive Development in Early Childhood (3 to 8 years old)
- Piaget’s Preoperational Stage:
- Develops the ability to use symbols and pretend play.
- Egocentric thinking: Difficulty seeing things from another person’s perspective.
- Information Processing:
- Memory and attention span continue to develop.
- Begin to classify objects and understand simple cause-and-effect relationships.
- Language Development:
- Dramatic increase in vocabulary and grammar skills.
- Able to ask complex questions and engage in conversations.
Speaker Notes Early childhood is a period of significant cognitive growth. According to Piaget’s theory, children enter the preoperational stage, where they begin to use symbols and engage in pretend play. However, they still struggle with egocentric thinking, having difficulty seeing things from another person’s perspective. Information processing abilities continue to develop, with children demonstrating improved memory, attention span, and the ability to classify objects and understand cause-and-effect relationships. Language development flourishes in early childhood, with a dramatic increase in vocabulary and grammar skills.