ECE 653
Understanding Cognitive Development
ECE 653: Cognitive Development of Infants and Young Children
Abstract
In this paper, it will examine different aspects of cognitive development in infants and
young children. In this research, we are going to discuss theoretical perspectives of cognitive
development of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and early school aged students. In the research
conducted, it will discuss theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, social learning, information processing
and brain research for infants and young children. This paper will also discuss knowledge and
skills areas of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and early school age students and how each area of
development will help infants and young children can succeed inside and outside of the
classroom. The areas being discussed are language development, memory development,
perception, concept of self, symbolic development, theory of mind, and schooling. In this paper
we will also discuss teaching strategies on infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and early school aged
students. As we look at every aspect of cognitive development discussed in this paper, we will
see how each of these elements will help us understand the major impact of how cognitive
development works in young children.
Introduction
Cognitive Development is one of the important in the development of infants and young
children. Cognitive development is the systematic changes in reasoning, concepts, memory, and
language (McDevitt and Ormrod, 2013). It is important for early childhood educators
understand theoretical perspectives of cognitive development in infants and young children and
how theories help educators understand how children retain and remember information. We also
need to understand knowledge and skill areas of cognitive development and what a child should
, know in their age range. It is important to have developmentally appropriate teaching strategies
for infants and young children.
Infants and Toddlers (ages Birth to two years old)
Section 1: Theoretical Perspectives
Piaget:
During the Sensorimotor Stage of infants and toddlers will have periods on where the babies
improve their innate reflexes. The children will like bright, shiny, and moving stimuli. During
this stage, babies have their first contact with language, repeating body movements, develop
habits, and use primitive symbols to for mental representation (Rodriguez Weisz, 2018).
Vygotsky and Sociocultural:
Infants and toddlers develop intelligences by the means of their social interactions across their
culture. Infants and toddlers are often curious and involved in their learning process when
discovering new objects or an environment. Infants and toddlers can learn best from adults, (like
their parents), to promote their learning and the children can develop language with the use of
interaction of their peers and enhancements (Bjorklund and Hernandez Blasi, 2012).
Social Learning:
Children in this age category learning through observing the behavior of their peers, imitating
their attitudes and getting the same outcomes of those behaviors.
Information Processing:
In infants and toddlers, children process information through their senses. Over time when the
child is in his or her first or second year of life will be able to manage how he or she will process
information.
Brain Research:
During the infancy and toddler stage, during the development of the brain, infants develop
reflexes that allow them the ability to breath, suck and other sensory abilities. These abilities
Understanding Cognitive Development
ECE 653: Cognitive Development of Infants and Young Children
Abstract
In this paper, it will examine different aspects of cognitive development in infants and
young children. In this research, we are going to discuss theoretical perspectives of cognitive
development of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and early school aged students. In the research
conducted, it will discuss theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, social learning, information processing
and brain research for infants and young children. This paper will also discuss knowledge and
skills areas of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and early school age students and how each area of
development will help infants and young children can succeed inside and outside of the
classroom. The areas being discussed are language development, memory development,
perception, concept of self, symbolic development, theory of mind, and schooling. In this paper
we will also discuss teaching strategies on infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and early school aged
students. As we look at every aspect of cognitive development discussed in this paper, we will
see how each of these elements will help us understand the major impact of how cognitive
development works in young children.
Introduction
Cognitive Development is one of the important in the development of infants and young
children. Cognitive development is the systematic changes in reasoning, concepts, memory, and
language (McDevitt and Ormrod, 2013). It is important for early childhood educators
understand theoretical perspectives of cognitive development in infants and young children and
how theories help educators understand how children retain and remember information. We also
need to understand knowledge and skill areas of cognitive development and what a child should
, know in their age range. It is important to have developmentally appropriate teaching strategies
for infants and young children.
Infants and Toddlers (ages Birth to two years old)
Section 1: Theoretical Perspectives
Piaget:
During the Sensorimotor Stage of infants and toddlers will have periods on where the babies
improve their innate reflexes. The children will like bright, shiny, and moving stimuli. During
this stage, babies have their first contact with language, repeating body movements, develop
habits, and use primitive symbols to for mental representation (Rodriguez Weisz, 2018).
Vygotsky and Sociocultural:
Infants and toddlers develop intelligences by the means of their social interactions across their
culture. Infants and toddlers are often curious and involved in their learning process when
discovering new objects or an environment. Infants and toddlers can learn best from adults, (like
their parents), to promote their learning and the children can develop language with the use of
interaction of their peers and enhancements (Bjorklund and Hernandez Blasi, 2012).
Social Learning:
Children in this age category learning through observing the behavior of their peers, imitating
their attitudes and getting the same outcomes of those behaviors.
Information Processing:
In infants and toddlers, children process information through their senses. Over time when the
child is in his or her first or second year of life will be able to manage how he or she will process
information.
Brain Research:
During the infancy and toddler stage, during the development of the brain, infants develop
reflexes that allow them the ability to breath, suck and other sensory abilities. These abilities
