cognitive development

Question 1

define cognitive development

Answer 1

the emergence of the ability to think and understand

Question 2

what are piaget’s stages of cognitive development?

Answer 2

sensorimotor stage, pre-operational stage, concrete operational stage, formal operational stage

Question 3

define the sensorimotor stage

Answer 3

• birth - 2 years
• an infant’s demonstration of intelligence by means of motor activity without the use of symbols
• using their senses
• 7-9 months - object permanence

Question 4

define the pre-operational stage

Answer 4

• 2-7 years
• children demonstrate intelligence through the use of symbols
• language abilities begin to develop considerably
• significant growth in their memory and imagination
• egocentric thinking is prevalent

Question 5

define the concrete operational stage

Answer 5

• 7-11 years
• logical thinking develops and children become able to solve hands-on problems in a logical fashion
• understand the concept of conservation - a number, length, liquid, mass, weight, area, and volume can all be manipulated added to, and subtracted from
• understand sequences in reverse
• begin to limit egocentric thinking

Question 6

define the formal operational stage

Answer 6

• 11-15 years
• demonstrate intelligence through their ability to solve increasingly complicated abstract problems using logic, and by understanding how to use symbols related to abstract concepts
• often return to egocentric thinking

Question 7

how can cognitive development be enhanced through physical activity?

Answer 7

the hippocampus (structure of the brain associated with learning and memory) become larger through exercise