Chapter 9: Cognitive Development in Preschool

Question 1

define preoperational stage

Answer 1

2-7yrs
lots of use of symbols (words, gestures, objects, models)
classify objects by 1 dimension

Question 2

define and describe the characteristics of preoperational thought

Answer 2

egocentricism: everyone sees the world as from the child’s point of view (nods when asked yes question on phone doesn’t realize person can’t see)
centration: narrowly focused thought- can divide a piece of cake into 2 pieces unevenly and child thinks it’s fair cause it’s two pieces
appearance as reality: santa at bayshore is real santa

Question 3

in terms of centration, list some conservation experiments

Answer 3

liquid: pouring from two identical glasses into one new odd shaped one
number: moving the arrangement so the rows look longer/shorter
length: same as above
mass: changing shape of dough balls
area: moving around tiles in same field

Question 4

define and describe theory of mind

Answer 4

understanding that there is a relationship between our thoughts and our behaviour. Children can express their wants and needs, but they may not understand that someone else’s behaviour is done in the same way - it requires counter factual thinking. By age 4, kids can respond to Sally / Anne task

Question 5

define and describe executive functioning

Answer 5

the intentional self regulation behaviours. lack of this leads to decreased theory of mind.

Question 6

list factors that affect word learning

Answer 6

length, familiarity, exposure, strategies, gender (girls are better)

Question 7

describe bilingual word learning

Answer 7

critical period is before adolescence. requires early language differentiation, and there may be a lag behind monolinguals but then they catch up

Question 8

describe telegraphic speech

Answer 8

directly related to meaning. rule governed.
agent-action
agent-object

Question 9

describe when and how grammatical morphemes are used

Answer 9

by 3yrs

learn the rules such as “ing” means action is present, or adding “s” means object is plural.

Question 10

how do children acquire grammar

Answer 10

grammar learning view: indirect evidence, neuroscience
semantic bootstrapping hypo: children rely on word meanings to figure out grammar rules
language experience: seek out regularities to figure out new words