CH7: Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood

Question 1

Piaget’s Preoperational Stage 2: Operations

Answer 1

A child’s ability to do mentally what they previously could only do physically (ex. counting with fingers to counting mentally)

Question 2

Piaget’s Preoperational Stage 2: Symbolic function substage

Answer 2

The ability to visualize things that are not present (ex. I can visualize a cat even though there isn’t one here with me)

Question 3

Piaget’s Preoperational Stage 2: Egocentrism

Answer 3

The belief that my perspective is the same as everyone elses (ex. I can see there are two animals on this side of the mountain, that means you can, too)

emphasis on “ego”

Question 4

Piaget’s Preoperational Stage 3: Animism

Answer 4

Believing in “magic;” inanimate objects are life-like and can do things like humans

Question 5

Piaget’s Preoperational Stage 3: Intuitive thought substage

Answer 5

Children constantly want to ask questions and use reasoning

Question 6

Piaget’s Preoperational Stage 2: Centration

Answer 6

Focusing too much on one aspect and disregarding other factors (ex. I think the taller glass has more water, even though both glasses have the same amount. I was too focused on the shape of the glasses)

Question 7

Piaget’s Preoperational Stage 2: Conservation

Answer 7

Changing the appearance of something does not mean the foundation completely changes (ex. even as I transferred the water from the shorter cup to the taller cup, the amount of water stays the same)

Question 8

Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Answer 8

Children think and understand through communication and social settings

Question 9

Scaffolding

Answer 9

Changing the level of support depending on the child

Question 10

Zone of Proximal Development

Answer 10

Tasks that are too difficult for one child alone but can be done with guidance

the difference between what I can vs. cannot do with/without help

Question 11

Vygotsky’s Theory

Answer 11

Children develop through social interactions

Question 12

Private speech

Answer 12

Self-regulation through speaking aloud (ex. I describe what I’m doing as I am doing it)

Question 13

Social constructivist approach

Answer 13

We learn through social settings & we mutually build our knowledge through social settings

Question 14

What is the average height and weight growth during early childhood?

Answer 14

• Average height growth: 2.5 inches per year
• Average weight increase: 5-10 lbs per year

Question 15

Brain growth

Answer 15

Brain reaches 95% of an adult’s brain by 6 years old

Question 16

Myelination

Answer 16

A layer of fat cells that insulates/covers nerve cells; increases the speed information travels to the nervous system

Question 17

At a glance: Piaget’s preoperational stage

Answer 17

• 2 to 7 years
• Children think about the world in drawings, words, & images
• Develop reasoning
• Egocentrism & magical beliefs