Chapter 5- Physical & Cognitive Development In Early Childhood

Question 1

Myelination

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

Preoperational Stage

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Operations

Answer 3

In Piaget’s theory, these are internalized, reversible sets of actions that allow children to do mentally what they formerly did physically.

Question 4

Symbolic function substage

Answer 4

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).

Question 5

Egocentrism

Answer 5

The inability to distinguish between one’s own perspective and someone else’s ( salient Preoperational thought).

Question 6

Animism

Answer 6

The belief that inanimate objects have lifelike qualities and are capable of action.

Question 7

Intuitive thought substage

Answer 7

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)

Question 8

Centration

Answer 8

The focusing of attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others.

Question 9

Conservation

Answer 9

In Piaget’s theory, awareness that altering an object’s or substance’s appearance does not change its basic properties.

Question 10

zone of proximal development

ZPD

Answer 10

Vygotsky’s term for tasks that are too difficult for children to master alone but can be mastered with assistance.

Question 11

Executive attention

Answer 11

Involves planning actions, allocating attention to goals, detecting and compensating for errors, monitoring progress on tasks, and dealing with novel or difficult circumstances.

Question 12

Sustained attention

Answer 12

Also referred to as vigilance; involves focused and extended engagement with an object, task, event, or other aspect of the environment.

Question 13

Short-term memory

Answer 13

The memory component which individuals retain information for up to 30 seconds, assuming there is no rehearsal of the information.

Question 14

Executive function

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Theory of mind

Answer 15

Refers to the awareness of one’s own mental processes and the mental processes of others.

Question 16

Phonology

Answer 16

The sound system of a language, including the sounds used and how they may be combined.

Question 17

Morphology

Answer 17

Unites of meaning involving in word formation.

Question 18

Syntax

Answer 18

The way words are combined to form acceptable phrases and sentences.

Question 19

Semantics

Answer 19

The meaning of words and sentences.

Question 20

Fast mapping

Answer 20

A process that helps to explain how young children learn the connection between a word and its referent so quickly.

Question 21

Pragmatics

Answer 21

The appropriate use of language in different contexts.

Question 22

Child-centered kindergarten

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

Montessori approach

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

Developmentally appropriate practice

DAP

Answer 24

Education that focuses on the typical developmental patterns of children ( age appropriateness) and the uniqueness of each child

Question 25

Project Head Start

Answer 25

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.