The cognitive domain of child development includes intellectual development and how children use their brains to gain the ability to pay attention, process thought, develop core memories, and problem-solve. A child needs to interact with their environment to learn about it which is done by using their senses.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT THEORY
Cognitive Development theory is important and is very beneficial to learning. It provides a better understanding of how children develop and grow mentally. According to grand theories, cognitive development is explained in stages, and understanding what happens at each stage provides help for parents to facilitate healthy cognitive growth and development. It allows parents to identify and address early challenges that may arise. Understanding and knowing about cognition makes it easier to identify problems associated with speech, communication, self-help skills, brain functions, and other mental impairments. The earlier these problems are identified the better the intervention chances to help avoid problems later in life. Children with cognitive disabilities may take longer to learn how to speak, communicate, and comprehend making it difficult for them to learn when they reach the school level in most cases.
Jean Piaget was the first to study how children learn in a scientific way. Through his years of research, he explains that children go through four stages of thinking that mold how they see and learn about the world. He believed that children should be given tasks that are suitable for their stage of thinking. The cognitive learning theory lists four stages:
1. Sensorimotor (0-2 years old)- Children experience the world and learn by using their five senses. They accomplish this by a combination of the use of their senses with their motor skills.
2. Preoperational (2-7 years old)- The child begins to communicate by forming symbols and signs and they imitate actions that have been observed.
3. Concrete Operational (7-11 years old)- Thinking becomes more flexible as children at this stage begin to learn how to reason and use deductive logic.
4. Formal Operational (11-15 years old)- Children at this stage are now able to think abstractly, conceptualize, and accurately draw conclusions. This is considered the highest stage of mental development.
Strategies to help Families at and at home.
Consistent and Adequate Sleep routine
Ensuring children get adequate rest is an important part of cognitive development. Consistency motivates children and helps them to understand the positive effect of sleep on their cognitive and brain health. Shortened sleep for children has a detrimental effect on their cognitive development. Children who are well-rested perform better throughout the day and are more receptive.
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