1. Early Childhood According to Jean Piaget
By: Lindsey Schultz
The principle goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done -- men who are creative, inventive and discoverers.
~Jean Piaget

2. A Little about Piaget… Jean Piaget Born in Switzerland in 1896
Studied natural sciences at University of Neuchâtel then University of Zurich
Moved to France; Worked at a boy’s institution
Standardized intelligence tests
Observing and studying children was his passion
1923 married and had three children
Died in Geneva in 1980

3. Piaget’s Developmental Stages
Developmental stages in which children develop and progress:
Sensori-motor  (Birth-2 yrs) ***
Pre-operational  (2-7 years) ***
Concrete operational  (7-11 years) 
Formal operational  (11 years and up) 

4. Piaget’s First Two Developmental Stages… A Closer Look
Sensori-motor  (Birth-2 yrs) 
Child learns about self and
environment through motor and
reflex actions
Sensation and movement
Environmental adaptation
Behavior
Object permanency

5. 6 Subcategories of Sensorimotor Stage
Substage 1 ( /2 months)
Reflex Schemas
Substage 2 (1 1/2 - 4 months)
Primary Circular Reactions
Substage 3 (4 - 8 months)
Secondary Circular Reactions
Substage 4 ( months)
Coordinated Secondary Circular Reactions
Substage 5 ( months)
Tertiary Circular Reactions
Substage 6 ( months)
Beginnings of Symbolic Representation

6. Substage 1: Reflex Schemas
Substage 1 ( /2 months)
Reflex Schemas
Involuntary response to stimuli
EX: Sucking, yawning, blinking

7. Substage 2: Primary Circular Reactions
Substage 2 (1 1/2 - 4 months)
Primary Circular Reactions
Attempts to repeat pleasurable actions
Ex: Hand in mouth, toy in mouth

8. Substage 3: Secondary Circular Reactions
Substage 3 (4 - 8 months)
Secondary Circular Reactions
Attempts to repeat pleasurable actions more environmentally based
Ex: Pick up cup, Hit/swing at toy

9. Substage 3: Secondary Circular Reactions Continued…
7 Months—Object permanency
Knowledge that an object exists even when not in view.
EXAMPLE:
Baby Ella knows where the object is even though it is not in plain sight.

10. Substage 4: Coordinated Secondary Circular Reactions
Substage 4 ( months)
Coordinated Secondary Circular Reactions
Can put secondary reactions together to form and solve new problems
Ex: Cover/uncover, lift/put down

11. Substage 5: Tertiary Circular Reactions
Substage 5 ( months)
Tertiary Circular Reactions
Will deliberately change/alter an action to discover consequences
Ex: Drop ball from different heights, talk at different levels

12. Substage 6: Beginnings of Symbolic Representation
Substage 6 ( months)
Beginnings of Symbolic Representation
Can solve problems using representation
Ex: Talk through problems, imagination

13. Preoperational Stage…
Pre-operational  (2-7 years) 
Children use language and symbols more frequently
Fantasy increased
No conceptualization of time
Egocentric tendencies/Single point of view

14. Preoperational Substages
Substage 1 (2years-4years)
Symbolic Function
Can mentally describe object not present through the use of symbols
Ex: Scribbles, models (cars, people, houses)

15. Preoperational Substages Continued…
Substage 2 (4years-7years)
Intuitive Thought
Primitive reasoning skills. Want to know the answers to MANY questions (what, why, who,)

16. Things to Remember…
Children go through these stages at DIFFERENT paces and times
Some are faster and some are slower
This is only a THEORY of development
Not a specific guideline
ALWAYS remember to trust your parental instincts!
YOU know what is best for your child

17. References http://www.funderstanding.com/content/piaget