Helping Children Learn Unit 6 Child Development

Brain Development By the time a child is 6 years old the brain is 90% of adult size Child’s brain is being affected by stimuli

Stimuli: Any things that arouse thoughts, feelings, or actions

Hemispheres of the Brain Right Hemisphere Spatial relationships, color, designs, and musical skills Controls motor functions on the left side of the body

Hemispheres of the Brain Left Hemisphere Language functions, such as speaking, hearing, and counting Controls motor functions on the right side of the body

How is intelligence measured? Achievement tests measure knowledge in content areas Example: MAP testing The problem is that a person may not put forth the effort causing low test scores, but may still be really smart

Use all of their senses to explore the world Piaget’s Stages Sensorimotor Use all of their senses to explore the world Learn that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight, which is called object permanence

Become interested in things and people around them Piaget’s Stages Preoperational Age 2-7 Become interested in things and people around them They have irreversible thinking – can’t put evidence together to form a conclusion

Learn classification – sorting or arranging items by common qualities Piaget’s Stages Preoperational Cntd. Learn classification – sorting or arranging items by common qualities Centering – will only classify objects one way Seriation – arrange items in order by size, number, date, etc. Pretend and fantasize Think symbolically – see an object for what it represents

Can think about actions without actually doing them Piaget’s Stages Stage of concrete operations Ages 7-11 Can think about actions without actually doing them Learn conservation – objects keep the same weight, area, and number or amount when they are moved or rearranged

Reversibility – think about an object and change their mind about it Piaget’s Stages Stage of concrete operations Reversibility – think about an object and change their mind about it Think about other people’s point of view

Can think abstractly and hypothetically Piaget’s Stages Stage of formal operations Adolescence to adult Can think abstractly and hypothetically Example can think about prices without real money Understand right and wrong

Solve problems by thinking Piaget’s Stages Stage of formal operations Can think about what might have been the cause of something without experiencing it Solve problems by thinking

Concept Development by organizing the information they receive from their senses children form concepts, which are general categories of objects and ideas formed by mentally combining their characteristics

Example: all four legged animals are dogs Concept Development Concepts are categorized in different ways Classification – group objects together based on a similar characteristic Example: all four legged animals are dogs

Concepts are categorized in different ways Shape and size – children will categorize objects by how big or small they are

Concepts are categorized in different ways Number and quantity – how many crackers they have and they can also put numbers in order from 1 to 10

Time – children don’t understand most time concepts until age 5 Concepts are categorized in different ways Time – children don’t understand most time concepts until age 5 At age 3 a child understands “wait a minute” At age 4 a child can understand future time

Recognition – ability to realize that one has seen something before Cognitive Activities Memory Recognition – ability to realize that one has seen something before Recall – ability to remember something that one has experienced or learned before Curiosity – children will ask “why?” Provides knowledge at exactly the moment the child is ready to absorb it

Cognitive Activities Imagination Evidence of increasing cognitive development Pretend play Creativity Ability to produce something original and unique Artistic expression

Use reasoning for the problem solving process Cognitive Activities Reasoning and problem solving Reasoning – ability to think logically, to make judgments, and to form conclusions Use reasoning for the problem solving process

Language Development Two parts 1st part: productive language or the ability to speak 2nd part: receptive language or the ability to understand words written and spoken by others

Productive Learning Develop productive language by imitating the speech of family members and others

Trial and Error in Early Speech Children will make many mistakes before getting all of their language correct Don’t laugh! Try to correct their mistakes nicely so they can learn!

Being Bilingual Speak two languages Children learn languages very quickly – so it’s easy to teach them two languages at a time

Nervous system must be developed Usually begin in first grade Learning to Read Nervous system must be developed Usually begin in first grade Don’t push because this could lead to continuing failure!

Stimulating Cognitive Development Children should participate in activities that stimulate their mind Explore physical world – allow to try new things, take them outside

Learn new words – talk and listen to children, use simple sentences to give instructions, and be descriptive so they hear how words are used

Ask them questions as you read Read books Read to them Ask them questions as you read Supervise TV Limit amount of TV watched and what shows are watched There is no participation to TV, so they don’t learn how to interact with others

Trips Go to library Take them to work! Use computers Allow to experiment with computers Provide extra activities Trips Go to library Take them to work!