What is cognitive development and why is it important?
Cognitive development is about how children think, explore and figure things out. It is about learning and reasoning, including the development of memory, symbolic thought, and problem-solving skills it is also about the development of knowledge, skills, and dispositions, Cognitive
development helps children think about and understand the world around them.
Cognitive development is demonstrated when child imitates an adult, makes a “ruff” sound when they see a dog, or smiles upon hearing a familiar voice...etc. Experiences plays a critical role in the cognitive development of preschoolers in different stages. Outside of their families, teachers and caregivers might be the person they spend the, so it is important to understand the foundation of cognitive development. Early years are the most critical years for brain development because the experiences they have help to shape the architecture of their brains as synapsis are being developed every second. The more often a child has an experience (positive or negative) the stronger those synapses will become.. Children who accumulate negative experiences in their early years carry the effects with them throughout their lives.
What are the congitive developmental stages according to Piaget?
Developmental psychologist Jean Piaget highlights the effect of the interaction with the environment on the cognitive development. His theory of cognitive development explains how a child develops an understanding of their world through their play and exploration. According to Piaget there are four stages of cognitive development working with young ages here we will introduce the first two:
1.Sensorimotor
( Birth to 2)
During this time, infants and toddlers touch, squeeze, poke, shake, bang, and mouth materials to explore they learn about the world by using their senses to interact and explore their environment. Examples of this stage include:
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An infant who cries when you leave the room: As children grow, they begin to understand that even if you are not next to them or able to be seen, you will return. Therefore, it is especially important to support young children during drop-off and pickup times with their families.
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An infant who startles during a game of peekaboo: Prior to achieving object permanence, an infant believes when an adult’s face is covered, that they are no longer there. Therefore, the child may startle easily when you move your hands.
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An infant that kicks their legs to make the objects on an activity mat move or shakes a rattle to hear the sound that it produces.
2.Preoperational
Preoperational (from age 2 to age 7). Children begin to think about things symbolically and begin to remember and repeat actions or words used previously. During this time, children’s thinking is still egocentric, meaning they difficulty seeing the viewpoint of others. Examples of this stage include:
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Pretending as they play that that a ball is a cat.
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Imitating Superman around the room.
What are the cognitive development milestones for toddlers and preschooolers?
Milestones provide a guide for when to expect certain skills or behaviors to emerge in young children. Preschool teachers must be knowledgeable about children’s developmental milestones to meet children’s needs in your classroom.
Keep in mind:
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Each child is unique in when they will master each skill.
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Milestones can differ slightly according cultures.
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preschoolers are on a a continues process during their growth to acquiring these skills.
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preschoolers are still establishing these abilities for the first time our role is to offer all the opportunities and support to help all children grow and learn to their potential.
What is your role in developing cildren's cognitive skills?
Cognitive development is strengthened when children are healthy, emotionally secure, and socially connected. Adults can support healthy brain development by including the following in their care for infants and toddlers:
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Engage in back and forth interactions.
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Share your thoughts, feelings, and needs aloud.
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Support active, child-led learning.
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Model persistence.
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Provide responsive caregiving that builds self-regulatory skills.
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Create flexible, individualized routines.
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Make sure children are healthy, by keeping a clean environment and promoting healthy habits.
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Make sure kids are emotionally secure, by responding to their cues and addressing their needs in a nurturing manner.
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Make sure children are socially connected, by fostering relationships between them and others during play and caregiving routines.
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Make sure children can construct their own ideas of the world around them and investigate their ideas through open-ended, safe experiences.