Jean Piaget Four Critical Stages Of Cognitive Development
Choosing appropriate toys for your infant is an important task. Not only because many toys are inappropriate or even dangerous for young children. But also because you should pick toys that are appropriate for your child cognitive development.
Children are not only growing physically during the first years of life but also mentally. Every day while they interact with their environment, infants are developing cognitively (Oswalt). Much of what we know today about children cognitive development is based on the theories of Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget. Piaget developed a theory of childhood development which propose that children progress through a series of four critical stages of cognitive development (Cherry, 2016). “The four stages are the sensorimotor stage from birth to about age 2; the preoperational stage, from age 2 to about age 7; the concrete operational stage, from age 7 to 11 and the formal operational stage, begins in adolescence and continues into adulthood” (Cherry, 2016).
“According to Piaget theory, infants …show more content…
interact with their environment entirely through reflexive behaviors” (Oswalt). Piaget believes that newborns didn't know what they were going to do but rather just follow their spontaneous reactions and instincts, learning about their environment through their senses and realizing that they can make things happen with their reactions. Piaget separated infancy (sensorimotor stage) into six sub-stages, which had been adjusted over the years (Oswalt).
Most of your baby's cognitive development occurs naturally, but you can play a big part with your involvement in their development, and here is when choosing toys that are suitable for your child cognitive development comes handy.
For example, to enhance baby's cognitive development from 0-3 months, pick toys that babies can look at, chew on, feel, hold, and drop.
Like books, a mobile over the crib, a mirror, toys that make different sounds, including musical toys (Jamie Loehr). For infants from the 3-6 month, you can continue reinforcing all the items mentioned above and also add toys that have different textures. For example, little books with different textures. For 6-9 months, encourage the child to discover sounds with toys like a bell, rattle, xylophone, or drum. Also at this age babies should start understanding about Cause and Effect, you can help this process with building blocks (Meredith Corporation, 2015). For 9-12 months’ puzzles and stacking toys are excellent since this toys help an infant memory skills and remember right from the moment your child was born, you are your baby's best toy. Talk to them and interact wit your child as much as
possible.
Children are not only growing physically during the first years of life but also mentally. Every day while they interact with their environment, infants are developing cognitively (Oswalt). Much of what we know today about children cognitive development is based on the theories of Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget. Piaget developed a theory of childhood development which propose that children progress through a series of four critical stages of cognitive development (Cherry, 2016). “The four stages are the sensorimotor stage from birth to about age 2; the preoperational stage, from age 2 to about age 7; the concrete operational stage, from age 7 to 11 and the formal operational stage, begins in adolescence and continues into adulthood” (Cherry, 2016).
“According to Piaget theory, infants …show more content…
interact with their environment entirely through reflexive behaviors” (Oswalt). Piaget believes that newborns didn't know what they were going to do but rather just follow their spontaneous reactions and instincts, learning about their environment through their senses and realizing that they can make things happen with their reactions. Piaget separated infancy (sensorimotor stage) into six sub-stages, which had been adjusted over the years (Oswalt).
Most of your baby's cognitive development occurs naturally, but you can play a big part with your involvement in their development, and here is when choosing toys that are suitable for your child cognitive development comes handy.
For example, to enhance baby's cognitive development from 0-3 months, pick toys that babies can look at, chew on, feel, hold, and drop.
Like books, a mobile over the crib, a mirror, toys that make different sounds, including musical toys (Jamie Loehr). For infants from the 3-6 month, you can continue reinforcing all the items mentioned above and also add toys that have different textures. For example, little books with different textures. For 6-9 months, encourage the child to discover sounds with toys like a bell, rattle, xylophone, or drum. Also at this age babies should start understanding about Cause and Effect, you can help this process with building blocks (Meredith Corporation, 2015). For 9-12 months’ puzzles and stacking toys are excellent since this toys help an infant memory skills and remember right from the moment your child was born, you are your baby's best toy. Talk to them and interact wit your child as much as
possible.