Topic 1: Development
1. Early Brain Development
Forebrain: Responsible for complex behaviors, emotions, and decision-
making.
Midbrain: Processes sensory information and coordinates movement.
Hindbrain: Controls vital functions like breathing and heart rate.
Cerebellum: Manages balance and coordination.
Medulla Oblongata: Regulates involuntary functions such as breathing
and heartbeat.
Neural Connections: Rapid development occurs from birth to age 3, with
approximately 700–1000 new connections forming every second.
2. Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development
Schemas: Mental frameworks that help individuals understand and
interpret information.
Processes:
Assimilation: Integrating new information into existing schemas.
Accommodation: Modifying existing schemas to incorporate new
information.
Equilibration: Balancing assimilation and accommodation to create stable
understanding.
1. Sensorimotor Stage (0–2 years)
Infants learn about the world through sensory experiences
Object Permanence: Understanding that objects continue to exist even
when they are out of sight (usually develops around 8 months).
Example: A baby drops a toy and looks for it under the table, showing
awareness that it still exists.
2. Pre-operational Stage (2–7 years)
1. Symbolic Function Sub-stage (Ages 2-4)
Symbolic play – using objects as symbols
Example: a box is used as a car or rocket ship
Egocentrism: the inability to see things from someone else's point of
view.
Example: If a child is playing with a dollhouse, they might assume that
everyone else in the room can see the same view of the dollhouse as they
do, even though others are standing in a different position.
Animism: In this stage, children give human characteristics to non-human
things
, Example: A child might believe that their stuffed bear feels sad if it’s left
alone in a room.
2. Intuitive Thought Sub-stage (Ages 4-7)
Increased Use of Language: Children’s vocabulary expands significantly
and begin to ask questions
Example: A child might ask, “Why is the sky blue?” showing curiosity
about the world around them.
Centration: children focus on one aspect of a situation and ignore other
important features.
Example: If you show a child two rows of coins that are the same length
but then spread out one row, the child may focus only on the length of
the rows and say the spread-out row has more coins, even though the
number is the same.
Lack of Conservation: Children in this stage cannot yet understand that
quantities remain the same even when their appearance changes.
Example: When a child sees liquid poured from a short, wide glass into a
tall, narrow glass, they may believe the tall glass has more liquid, even
though it’s the same amount.
Irreversibility: Children struggle to understand that actions can be
reversed.
Example: they may not understand that if you roll dough into a ball and
then flatten it, it can return to its original shape.
3. Concrete Operational Stage (7–11 years)
Begin to use logical thinking
Understand conservation, reversibility, and classification.
Decentration – can focus on more than one aspect
Reversibility – understanding that actions can be reversed
Example: 2+5=7, they understand that 7-2=5
seriation – classifying things into categories
4. Formal Operational Stage (11+ years)
Can think abstractly
Understand concepts of morality
1. Early Brain Development
Forebrain: Responsible for complex behaviors, emotions, and decision-
making.
Midbrain: Processes sensory information and coordinates movement.
Hindbrain: Controls vital functions like breathing and heart rate.
Cerebellum: Manages balance and coordination.
Medulla Oblongata: Regulates involuntary functions such as breathing
and heartbeat.
Neural Connections: Rapid development occurs from birth to age 3, with
approximately 700–1000 new connections forming every second.
2. Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development
Schemas: Mental frameworks that help individuals understand and
interpret information.
Processes:
Assimilation: Integrating new information into existing schemas.
Accommodation: Modifying existing schemas to incorporate new
information.
Equilibration: Balancing assimilation and accommodation to create stable
understanding.
1. Sensorimotor Stage (0–2 years)
Infants learn about the world through sensory experiences
Object Permanence: Understanding that objects continue to exist even
when they are out of sight (usually develops around 8 months).
Example: A baby drops a toy and looks for it under the table, showing
awareness that it still exists.
2. Pre-operational Stage (2–7 years)
1. Symbolic Function Sub-stage (Ages 2-4)
Symbolic play – using objects as symbols
Example: a box is used as a car or rocket ship
Egocentrism: the inability to see things from someone else's point of
view.
Example: If a child is playing with a dollhouse, they might assume that
everyone else in the room can see the same view of the dollhouse as they
do, even though others are standing in a different position.
Animism: In this stage, children give human characteristics to non-human
things
, Example: A child might believe that their stuffed bear feels sad if it’s left
alone in a room.
2. Intuitive Thought Sub-stage (Ages 4-7)
Increased Use of Language: Children’s vocabulary expands significantly
and begin to ask questions
Example: A child might ask, “Why is the sky blue?” showing curiosity
about the world around them.
Centration: children focus on one aspect of a situation and ignore other
important features.
Example: If you show a child two rows of coins that are the same length
but then spread out one row, the child may focus only on the length of
the rows and say the spread-out row has more coins, even though the
number is the same.
Lack of Conservation: Children in this stage cannot yet understand that
quantities remain the same even when their appearance changes.
Example: When a child sees liquid poured from a short, wide glass into a
tall, narrow glass, they may believe the tall glass has more liquid, even
though it’s the same amount.
Irreversibility: Children struggle to understand that actions can be
reversed.
Example: they may not understand that if you roll dough into a ball and
then flatten it, it can return to its original shape.
3. Concrete Operational Stage (7–11 years)
Begin to use logical thinking
Understand conservation, reversibility, and classification.
Decentration – can focus on more than one aspect
Reversibility – understanding that actions can be reversed
Example: 2+5=7, they understand that 7-2=5
seriation – classifying things into categories
4. Formal Operational Stage (11+ years)
Can think abstractly
Understand concepts of morality
