1. Helping Children Learn
Unit 6
Child Development

2. 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

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

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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

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

21. 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

22. 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

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

24. 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!

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

26. 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!

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

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

29. 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

30. 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!