Cognitive Development

Agenda

Responsive Caregiving

Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

Exploration and Discovery

Problem Solving

Memory

Information Processing

Imitation and Make Believe

Inclusion

Objectives

Describe Piaget’s sensorimotor stage of cognitive development

Create a list of 4-5 engaging materials to promote exploration for non-mobile infants

Develop an open-ended activity to promote problem-solving skills

List 3-4 ways to promote and support pretend play

Create an inclusion strategy based on a scenario

Responsive Caregiving

Respond appropriately

Child receives the response

and needs are met

Observe the child’s needs

Cognitive Development

Jean Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

Age Developmental Stage

Birth – 2 Years Sensorimotor

2-7 Years Preoperational

Early cognitive development is based on actions, which lead to processes, which lead to changes in mental operations, the way we think.

Exploration and Discovery

Indicators:

• Pays attention and exhibits curiosity in people and objects

• Uses senses to explore people, objects, and the environment

• Shows interest in colors, shapes, patterns, and pictures

• Makes things happen and watches for results and repeats actions

Object Permanence

Before Object Permanence

• An object is forgotten when it is hidden

• Reappearance causes surprise

After Object Permanence

• Infant seeks out the hidden object

Exploration and Discovery

0-8 Months

• Reach to touch objects

• Put objects in their mouth to touch and taste

• Turn toys over and over to explore, bang toys

• Hit or kick toys to make them move, over and over

Exploration and Discovery

8-18 Months

• Look at books

• Enjoy toys/objects that make sounds, such as drums or bells

• Look closely at small objects, examining the detail

• Stack blocks or objects

• Manipulate toys or objects repeatedly

Exploration and Discovery

18-36 Months

• Express interest in animals and insects

• Examine rocks, sticks, and outdoor objects

• Pour, scoop, and explore sand and water

• Match colors and shapes, sort like objects

• Push/pull riding toys

Exploration and Discovery

36-48 Months

• Talk about and ask about objects in nature

• Notice and discuss changes in weather

• Name colors and shapes

• Copy simple patterns

• Experiment with different objects during play to compare their effects

• Repeat actions to improve results

Caregiver Responses

• Provide an enriched environment with a variety of objects to promote exploration indoors and outside

• Rotate materials often

• Allow uninterrupted play time

• Model curiosity, finding answers together rather than providing them

• Engage and play alongside

Problem Solving

Indicators:

• Experiments with different uses for objects

• Shows imagination, creativity, and uses a variety of strategies to solve problems

• Applies knowledge to new situations

• Begins to develop interests and skills related to numbers and counting

Preoperational Thinking

• Ideas are based on experience, not explanation

• Can only focus on one characteristic of an object at a time

• Over-generalizes information due to limited experience

• Adjusts ideas and concepts only through experimentation

Conservation

Caregiver Responses

• Provide large blocks of uninterrupted free-play time

• Provide real-world experiences

• Plan open-ended activities

• Ask open-ended questions

Is the puppy sad?

How do you think the puppy is feeling?

Problem Solving

Memory

Indicators:

• Shows ability to acquire and process new information

• Recognizes familiar people, places, and things

• Recalls and uses information in new situations

• Searches for missing or hidden objects

Information Processing

1. Memory begins with sensory memory

2. Information gained from sensory memory then moves into short term memory

3. To be remembered for any length of time, information must be moved from short-term memory into long-term memory

Caregiver Responses

• Engage in face-to-face play with infants

• Organize the environment and keep materials in consistent locations

• Read favorite books over and over again

• Play memory games and sing favorite songs frequently

• Ask what they would like to sing/read

• Ask three-year-olds simple questions about past experiences

Imitation and Make Believe

Indicators:

• Uses objects in new ways or in pretend play

• Uses imitation in pretend play to express creativity and imagination

Imitation and Make Believe

0-8 Months

• Copy caregiver actions (sticking out tongue, clapping hands)

• Differed imitation: imitating a new act after a delay

8-18 Months

• Pretend with realistic objects (phone, cup)

• Self-directed play (pretending to eat)

Imitation and Make Believe

18-36 Months

• Pretend with less realistic props

• Direct play towards objects (feed the doll)

• Socio-dramatic play (pretend with peers)

36-48 Months

• No props are required

• Detached participant (the doll feeds itself)

• Socio-dramatic play becomes more elaborate

Caregiver Responses

• Play with infants and toddlers

• Songs and finger-play with repetition

• Provide space and time for pretend play

• Offer a variety of materials to scaffold pretend play

• Encourage and engage in play without controlling it

Inclusion Strategies

• Modify environment

• Adjust expectations

• Provide visual supports

– Project cards

– Picture schedules

• Monitor reactions

Snack Read Home

Conclusion

• Action Plan

• Q & A