Cognitive Development

Question 1

Definition of Cognitive Development

Answer 1

Age-related changes such as how children think and behave differently as they get older.

Question 2

Universal

Answer 2

When a development occurs for every child in the whole World it is universal.

Question 3

Invariant Stages

Answer 3

The same stages in a fixed order, that the child’s thinking ability has to go through. It doesn’t vary and one can’t be missed out.

Question 4

Schemas

Answer 4

Ideas, memories, information

Question 5

Assimilation

Answer 5

When a baby expands the range of things it responds to e.g. it can suck on a nipple from birth then being able to suck on a teat, then a rattle. Changing the scope of what it is capable of.

Question 6

Accommodation

Answer 6

The baby changing how it performs an action - forming the mouthing differently in order to suck, moving the hands to hold a toy then a bottle.

Question 7

Sensori motor

Answer 7

• Living in the present
• No knowledge of the past or future
• Once something disappears in front of them they don’t realise it still exists
• Only starts to make sense at 9 months
• Usually up to 2 years

Question 8

Pre-operational

Answer 8

• They are ego-centric (3 mountains)

* Can’t conserve

Question 9

Concrete Operational

Answer 9

• No longer ego-centric and can conserve

* They can do things like algebra but can’t do abstract or scientific reasoning

Question 10

Formal Operational

Answer 10

When 11 and over, most kids can begin to think in an abstract way, this is applying one idea to others and when you can solve problems logically and work hypothetically and the ‘big picture’ i.e. the implications of what they’re suggesting.