The Importance of Cognitive Development in Early Childhood



The Importance of Cognitive Development in Early Childhood

Introduction

Development of all kinds of mental processes such as perception, memory, concept formation, problem solving, imagination and logic are in cognitive development. Theory of cognitive development has been developed by Swiss philosopher and psychologist Jean Piaget. His epistemological theory provided many of the basic concepts in the field of developmental psychology and examines the growth of intelligence, which, according to Piaget, means the ability to more accurately reflect the world and perform logical operations on the concepts that arise in the interaction with the outside world. Theory considers the emergence and construction schemes - schemes that the perception of the world a "development stage", the time when the kids are getting new ways of presenting information in the brain (Afsaneh, 2010).

Theory is considered "constructivist" in the sense that, unlike nativistskih theories (which describe cognitive development as the unfolding of innate knowledge and abilities) or empirical theories (which describe cognitive development as the gradual acquisition of knowledge through experience), she argues that we own design our cognitive abilities through their own actions in the environment. Piaget's theory maintains that children pass through specific stages as his intellect and ability to perceive relationships mature (Atkinson, 1968

Discussion

These stages are developed in a fixed order for all children, and in all countries. No obstante, however, this can vary slightly from one child to another. The stages are:

Sensorimotor stage

This stage takes place between birth and age two, as children begin to understand the information his senses and his ability to interact with the world. During this stage, children learn to manipulate objects, but cannot understand the permanence of these objects if they are within range of your senses. That is, once an object disappears from view of the child cannot understand that there is still the object (or person).

For this reason they find it so compelling and surprising game that many adults play with their children, consistent in hiding his face behind an object such as a cushion, and then return to "appear." It is a game that also contributes to learn object permanence, which is one of the greatest achievements of this stage: the ability to understand that these objects continue to exist but cannot see them. This includes the ability to understand that when the mother leaves the room, come back, which increases their sense of security. This capability usually acquires by the end of this stage and represents the ability to maintain a mental image of the object (or person) without noticing (Barbara, 2006).

Preoperational stage

It starts when you understand object permanence, and extends from two to the seven years. During this stage, children learn how to interact with their environment in a more complex by the use of words and mental images. This stage is marked by self-centeredness, or the belief that all people see the world the same way he or she. They also believe that inanimate objects have the same perceptions that they and you ...