1. The document discusses cognitive development in early childhood based on the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky. It covers topics like preoperational thinking, theory of mind, language development including vocabulary and grammar, and different approaches to early childhood education. 2. According to Piaget, children ages 2-6 think symbolically but cannot do logical or operational thinking. Studies show young children struggle with concepts like conservation of quantity. Vygotsky emphasized social learning through guided participation and scaffolding. 3. Between ages 2-6/7, children make large leaps in thinking and learning through symbolic and social development. They construct theories to explain the world, learn language and grammar despite irregularities, and

2. 2
1. Introduction
2. Fact or Fiction?
3. Piaget and Vygotsky
4. Children’s Theories
5. Language
6. Early Childhood Education
7. Closing Thoughts

3. Fact or Fiction? Fiction Fact
1. Preoperational intelligence
is symbolic and self-centered.
2. A 3-year-old is likely to believe that the same
amount of ice cream is actually more when it is
transferred from a large bowl to a small bowl.
3. Most 3-year-olds can picture someone having a
different belief about where an object is hidden.
4. A young child who says, “You comed up
and hurted me” is demonstrating a lack
of understanding of English grammar.
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4. preoperational intelligence: Piaget’s
term for cognitive development between
the ages of 2 and 6; it includes language
and imagination (which involve symbolic
thought), but logical, operational
thinking is not yet possible.
conservation: The principle that the
amount of substance remains the
same (i.e., is conserved) even when
its appearance changes.
Piaget: Preoperational Thinking
Which glass contains more?
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5. Piaget: Preoperational Thinking
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Video:
Cognitive Development in Childhood: Piaget’s
Conservation-of-Liquid Task: 5 ½-Year-Old Fails

6. 6
guided participation: The process
by which people learn from others
who guide their experiences and
explorations.
scaffolding: Temporary support
that is tailored to the learner’s
needs and abilities and aimed at
helping the learner master the next
task in a given learning process.
Vygotsky: Social Learning

7. Theory-Theory
What categories do children ages 3 to 5 years ask questions about?
Source: Adapted from Kelemen et al., 2005.
Human
behavior 47%
Biology 31%
Objects 9%
Other 4%
Nonliving
natural
things 9%
theory-theory: The idea that
children attempt to explain
everything they see and hear
by constructing theories.
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Percentage of Questions
Asked by 3- to 5-Year-Olds,
by Domain

8. Theory of Mind
Where will Max look for the bone?
88
theory of mind: A person’s
theory of what other
people might be thinking.

9. Vocabulary
What is the word for each of these?
Horse Camel
Fast mapped as…
Zebra
Fast mapped as…
Donkey
Fast mapped as…
fast-mapping: The speedy and sometimes imprecise way in
which children learn new words by tentatively placing them
in mental categories according to their perceived meaning.
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Horse Horse Horse

10. Vocabulary
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Video:
Language Development: Word Learning: Clip B

11. Vocabulary
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Video:
Language Development: Word Learning: Clip C

12. Grammar
overregularization: The application of rules of grammar
even when exceptions occur, speaking as if the language
is more regular than it actually is.
How do children make nouns plural?
Correct singular noun
mouse
tooth
leaf
sheep
mice
teeth
leaves
sheep
mouses
tooths
leafs
sheeps
Correct plural noun Overregularized plural
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13. Learning Two Languages
Can you speak?
Se puede hablar?
Pouvez – vous parler?
Können Sie sprechen?
Você pode falar?
Potete parlare?
Вы можете говорить?
你能说话吗？
あなたは話すことができる？
balanced bilingual: A person who is fluent in two
languages, not favoring one over the other.
Can you speak?
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14. Child-Centered/Developmental programs support child
development by encouraging children to follow their own
interests rather than adult direction.
What are child-centered programs like?
Developmental Programs
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15. Teacher-Directed Programs
What are teacher-directed programs like?
Teacher-directed programs stress academics,
usually taught by one adult to a group of children.
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Photo credits, left to right: Fancy Collection SuperStock; image 100 /SuperStock; Catherine Yeulet/Thinkstock/Getty Images

16. Intervention Programs
What are
the 5 W’s
of Head
Start?
From 1965
to the present When Where
WhoWhy
What
Originally intended to lift families
out of poverty by promoting
literacy; also provides dental
care, immunizations, teaching
of English, and helping parents
teach their children and solve
their own conflicts
The United
States of
America
Federal
government
and legislation
Federally subsidized early
education programs for children
to get a “head start” on their
formal education
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17. Costs and Benefits
What did longitudinal research reveal
about a preschool program in Michigan?
Major Findings for High/Scope Participants at Age 40
Arrested 5+
times by 40
Earned
$20,000+
at 40
Graduated
from high
school
Homework
at 15
0 20 40 60 80 Percent
Source: Schweinhart et al., 2005, p. 196
Program group
No-program group
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18. Closing Thoughts
From what you saw in this presentation, what makes
it possible for young children to make huge leaps in
thinking and learning? Summarize how these events
unfold in children between the ages of 2 and 6 or 7.
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