Essay - A Child\'s Development PDF

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Running Head: A CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT

A Child’s Development Alexandria Martin Psychology of Human Development (PSY 211 – 51) Rowan College at South Jersey January 27, 2020

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A CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT

2 Abstract

This paper explores two published texts regarding research based on Jean Piaget’s cognitive theory of development. This theory focuses on the information, knowledge, and understanding of how children will learn and grow. This analysis provides information regarding the capabilities for each of the four stated stages of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. These four stages are the sensorimotor stage, the preoperational stage, the concrete operation stage, and the formal operational stage.

A CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT

3 Introduction

Jean Piaget was a developmental psychologist from Switzerland who studied how we learn to reason and changed the way we understand children’s cognitive development (Santrock, 2020). In 1952, Jean Piaget developed the Cognitive Development theory (Ghazi & Khan, 2014). His theory shows that children go through four stages of cognitive development, two of which are the principles of adaptation in our society: adaptation and organization. Piaget’s four stages of cognitive development are the Sensorimotor stage, the Preoperational stage, the Concrete Operational stage, and the Formal Operational stage. Each stage focuses on a different age group and shows the capabilities and limitations of their development (Santrock, 2020). Piaget’s Four Stages of Cognitive Development Piaget’s first stage of development, the Sensorimotor Stage, analyzes the development of children from birth until age two. In this stage, infants are learning and understanding the world by “coordinating sensory experiences with physical actions” (Santrock, 2020). At the beginning of this stage, an infant is learning the world through instinctual, reflexive actions. Children are beginning to understand limited to direct contact by sucking, touching, looking, learning to stand, and listening. However, infants in this stage are still unable to think for themselves yet and will eventually develop intentional actions. This stage ends with an infant beginning to learn symbolic thought (Santrock, 2020). Piaget’s second stage of development, the Preoperational Stage, shows the development of children from ages two through seven years of age. As children are now growing and preparing for an elementary education, the child will begin to “represent the world and worlds with images” by displaying the world through words, images, and drawings (Santrock, 2020).

A CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT

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Children in this stage cannot quite understand speed, size, or causation yet. However, they can comprehend the past, present, and future. This stage increases symbolic thinking and goes beyond the ability to simply understand the connection of sensory information and physical action (Santrock, 2020). Piaget’s third stage of development, the Concrete Operational Stage, analyzes children from ages seven through eleven. In this stage, children are learning to logically think about concrete events and classify objects into different categories (Santrock, 2020). A child’s reasoning abilities have been developed but are still concrete. Children can now understand size, speed, and causation, and can take the role of another person as required. Piaget’s fourth and final stage of development is the Formal Operation Stage. Children from ages eleven through eighteen are now also able to view the world in abstract, idealistic, and logical ways (Santrock, 2020). Children in this stage can now talk about concepts and can use rules to solve abstract problems and will also begin to learn adult responsibilities, such as household chores, cooking, and taking their first job. Conclusion The cognitive development process is the formation of cognitive thinking processes. Piaget’s theory focuses on the information, knowledge, and understanding of how children and adolescents will gain and apply that knowledge. His stages focus on developing cognitive abilities that are widely applied to social, moral, and physical learning (Ghazi & Khan, 2014). Piaget’s theory has provided a fantastic basis for educators, psychologists, and other professionals that work closely with children. Each of Piaget’s stages are inclusive to children of all genders, social class, and locations with regards to how they learn and how they can apply that information to their daily lives.

A CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT

5 References

Ghazi, S. R., Khan, U. A. (2014). Formal Operational Stage of Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory: An Implication in Learning Mathematics. Retrieved from https://libproxy.rcgc.edu:2135/docview/1786828918?accountid=11137. Santrock, J. W. (2020). Essentials of Life-Span Development. New York: McGraw-Hill Education....