Chapter 9

Cognitive Development in thePlay Years

Michael Hoerger

Piaget: Preoperational Stage

• Four aspects of preoperational thought:

1. Centration: focusing solely on an object’s central attribute

2. Focus on appearance

3. Static reasoning

4. Irreversibility

• Conservation experiments

• Manipulating an object’s appearance does not impact amount

Vygotsky: Child Apprentices

• Guided Participation: process of learning from helpful mentors

• Zone of Proximal Development

• Scaffolding: structured, supportive learning

Michael Hoerger

To cite this textbook:• Berger, K. (2005). The developing person

through the lifespan. New York: Worth.

To cite this lecture:• Hoerger, M. (2007, February 14).

Developmental Psychology: Toddler Cognitive Development. Presented at a PSY 220 lecture at Central Michigan University.