Chapter 5- Physical & Cognitive Development In Early Childhood Flashcards
Myelination
The process by which axons are covered and insulated with a layer of fat cells, which increases the speed at which information travels through the nervous system.
Preoperational Stage
Piaget’s second stage, lasting from about 2-7 years of age, during which children begin to represent the world with words, images, and drawings, and symbolic thought goes beyond simple connections of sensory information and physical action; stable concepts are formed, mental reasoning emerges, egocentrism is present, and magical beliefs are constructed.
Operations
In Piaget’s theory, these are internalized, reversible sets of actions that allow children to do mentally what they formerly did physically.
Symbolic function substage
Piaget’s first substage of Preoperational thought, in which the child gains the ability to mentally represent an object that is not present ( between about 2 and 4 years of age).
Egocentrism
The inability to distinguish between one’s own perspective and someone else’s ( salient Preoperational thought).
Animism
The belief that inanimate objects have lifelike qualities and are capable of action.
Intuitive thought substage
Piaget’s second substage of Preoperational thought, in which children begin to use primitive reasoning and want to know the answers to all sorts of questions ( between about ages 4-7)
Centration
The focusing of attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others.
Conservation
In Piaget’s theory, awareness that altering an object’s or substance’s appearance does not change its basic properties.
zone of proximal development
ZPD
Vygotsky’s term for tasks that are too difficult for children to master alone but can be mastered with assistance.
Executive attention
Involves planning actions, allocating attention to goals, detecting and compensating for errors, monitoring progress on tasks, and dealing with novel or difficult circumstances.
Sustained attention
Also referred to as vigilance; involves focused and extended engagement with an object, task, event, or other aspect of the environment.
Short-term memory
The memory component which individuals retain information for up to 30 seconds, assuming there is no rehearsal of the information.
Executive function
An umbrella-like concept that consists of a number of higher-level cognitive processes linked to the development of the prefrontal cortex. Executive function involves managing one’s thoughts to engage in goal directed behavior and to use self-control.
Theory of mind
Refers to the awareness of one’s own mental processes and the mental processes of others.
Phonology
The sound system of a language, including the sounds used and how they may be combined.
Morphology
Unites of meaning involving in word formation.
Syntax
The way words are combined to form acceptable phrases and sentences.
Semantics
The meaning of words and sentences.
Fast mapping
A process that helps to explain how young children learn the connection between a word and its referent so quickly.
Pragmatics
The appropriate use of language in different contexts.
Child-centered kindergarten
Education that involves the whole child by considering both the child’s physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development and the child’s needs, interests, and learning styles.
Montessori approach
An educational philosophy in which children are given considerable freedom and spontaneity in choosing activities and are allowed to move from one activity to another as they desire.
Developmentally appropriate practice
DAP
Education that focuses on the typical developmental patterns of children ( age appropriateness) and the uniqueness of each child
Project Head Start
A government funded program that is designed to provide children from low-income families with the opportunity to acquire the skills and experiences important for success.
