Question

Discuss the cognitive changes taking place in a developing child.

Answer 1

The cognitive changes that take place in a developing child are as follows:

• 0-2 years: This is the age of sensory motors whereby, infant explores the world by coordinating sensory experiences with physical actions.

• 2-7 years: In this age, Preoperational thinking begins and the child acquires the concept of object permanence that enables him/her to use mental symbols to represent objects. The child does not have the ability to judge or assume the consequences of actions before performing them.

• The child also acquires preoperational thought, i.e., s/he gains the ability to mentally represent an object that is not physically present.

• The children are egocentric and develop animist thought

• 4-7 years: Children develop intuitive thought. This enables them to question the things happening around them.

• 7-11 years: This age is marked by the development of concrete operational thought, whereby a logical thought is developed and the child can reason logically about concrete events, classify objects into sets and perform reversible mathematical operations.

• 11-15 years: The adolescents in this age develop formal operational thought, which leads to hypothetical thinking and is able to apply logic abstractly. They also develop a special kind of egocentrism of imaginary audience and personal fable.