Chapter 9: Cognitive Development in

Preschool Children

9.1 Cognitive Processes

9.2 Language

9.3 Communicating with Others

9.4 Early Childhood Education

9.1 Cognitive Processes

Piaget’s Account

Information-Processing Perspectives on Preschool Thinking

Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive Development

Piaget’s AccountPreschoolers are in Piaget’s preoperational stageChildren can use symbols but are many weaknesses in their thinking: egocentrism, centration, and appearance as realityImproved biological theories and theory of mind9.1 Cognitive Processes

Three-Mountains Task

Conservation Tasks

Theory of Mind Task

Information-Processing Perspectives…

During the preschool years, children become better at regulating their attentionAutobiographical memory originates in the preschool yearsPreschoolers’ counting follows 3 basic principles

9.1 Cognitive Processes

Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive Development

Zone of proximal development: difference between what one can do alone or with assistance Scaffolding: matching the amount of assistance to the learner’s needsPrivate speech: comments intended to regulate own behavior

9.1 Cognitive Processes

9.2 Language

Encouraging Word Learning

From Two-Word Speech to Complex Sentences

How Children Acquire Grammar

Encouraging Word Learning

Talk more, but with not at childrenAsk children questionsSesame Street helps (because it’s interactive)Bilingual children learn language as rapidly as monolinguals

9.2 Language

The Effect of Asking Children Questions

From Two-Word Speech to Complex Sentences

Speech is often telegraphic in 2-year-oldsGradually add grammatical morphemesEasiest morphemes mastered firstRule-based so errors of overregularization occur

9.2 Language

“Wug” Stimuli

How Children Acquire Grammar

Language input is important but more than just imitation because children’s speech has its own grammarNeural mechanisms that help children find regularities (specific brain regions, critical period for learning language)Semantic bootstrapping hypothesis: children rely upon word meaning to discover grammar

9.2 Language

9.3 Communicating with Others

Taking Turns

Speaking Effectively

Listening Well

Taking Turns

Even before children speak, parents model turn-takingBy 3 years, children know this is a key rule

9.3 Communicating with Others

Speaking Effectively

Toddlers’ first conversations about themselvesPreschoolers adjust their speech based on the age of the listener and contextUnderstand that when listeners misunderstand, speakers need to do something

9.3 Communicating with Others

Listening Well

Preschoolers often don’t detect ambiguities in messages or assume they understood the speaker’s intent.Preschoolers are more likely to believe confusing statements or statements that contradict their beliefs when told by a parent instead of a classmate

9.3 Communicating with Others

9.4 Early Childhood Education

Varieties of Early Childhood Education

Preschool Programs for Economically Disadvantaged Children

Using TV to Educate Preschool Children

Varieties of Early Childhood Education

Preschools and day-care centers are not the sameGoal of child-centered programs is to educate the whole childAcademic programs follow an explicit curriculum to achieve academic goalsMany programs based on Piagetian ideas

9.4 Early Childhood Education

Preschool Programs for Economically Disadvantaged

Head Start fosters development of children from low-income familiesIn general, children in Head Start are healthier, less likely to repeat a grade, less likely to be in special education

9.4 Early Childhood Education

Using TV to Educate Preschool Children

3-year-olds who watch Sesame Street regularly have larger vocabularies laterViewers of shows that stress prosocial behavior are more likely to act prosociallyTV watching does not lead to decreased attention span, mixed findings regarding creativity

9.4 Early Childhood Education