What is preoperational intelligence according to Piaget?
Cognitive development between ages 2 to 6 that includes symbolic thought like language and imagination, but lacks logical operational thinking.
What is the concept of conservation in preoperational thought?
The understanding that the amount of a substance remains the same even when its appearance changes.
Define centration.
Focusing on one aspect of a situation while ignoring others.
What is egocentrism in early childhood?
The inability to see things from another person’s perspective.
What is static thinking in cognitive development?
The belief that the world is unchanging and things are always as they are now.
What is guided participation in Vygotsky’s theory?
Learning through engaging in activities with the guidance of more skilled individuals.
Define scaffolding.
Temporary support tailored to the learner’s needs to help master a task.
What is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)?
The difference between what a child can do alone and what they can achieve with help.
What is theory-theory in child development?
The idea that children develop theories to explain what they see and hear.
What is theory of mind?
A child’s understanding of what other people might be thinking; develops after age 3.
What percentage of 3- to 5-year-olds’ questions are about human behavior?
47%
Define fast-mapping in language development.
Rapid learning of new words by placing them in mental categories based on meaning.
What is overregularization?
Applying grammar rules too strictly (e.g., “mouses” instead of “mice”).
What are child-centered/developmental programs?
Educational programs that allow children to follow their interests with minimal adult direction.
What are teacher-directed programs?
Programs that emphasize academic learning taught by an adult to a group.
