Cognitive Development in Childhood

The process of thinking development throughout the lifespan.

Higher mental processes that enable problem-solving, reasoning, and creation of complex concepts.

Changes in thinking from birth to adolescence.

(Implied, not explicitly defined but related to child development.) Questions that assess a child's ability to understand that certain physical characteristics remain the same despite changes in appearance. (e.g., same amount of liquid in different shaped glasses).

(Implied, not explicitly defined but related to child development.) Specific periods of growth in a child's cognitive development that are associated with particular abilities and challenges.

(Implied, not explicitly defined but related to child development.) A theory that describes how children process information—like a computer receives and uses information.

(Implied, not explicitly defined but related to child development.) A theory of cognitive development that suggests children progress through distinct stages of intellectual growth.

(Implied, not explicitly defined but related to child development.) A theory that emphasizes the important role of social and cultural factors in cognitive development.

The debate of how much our genes (nature) and our environment (nurture) influence our development.

Our biological inheritance, genes.

The environmental influences on development, including social and physical aspects.

Theories proposing that cognitive development occurs in distinct, qualitative stages.

The distinction between how things seem and how they actually are, in understanding.

Development of the ability to see and interpret the visual world, including depth perception.

The ability to perceive the distance of objects from oneself.

Children's genes can influence how others treat them, which affects their development.

Children actively choose what they focus on, shaping their development.

Parents mostly determine early experiences, while older children select their own.

A study of children's understanding of appearances versus reality using a cat.

Aspects of development not usually directly associated with cognitive development.

Developed sociocultural theory which emphasizes the importance of social interaction

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not seen, heard, or touched.

A theory that suggests cognitive development progresses through distinct stages, each with unique abilities and challenges.

Piaget's stage where children can think logically about concrete objects and events.

Piaget's stage where children can think abstractly and hypothetically.

The ability to recognize and manipulate the individual sounds within words.

Understanding the size of numbers.

An early advantage in cognitive skills due to experiences or learning opportunities.

The part of the brain responsible for planning, problem-solving, and higher-level thinking.

The debate about whether cognitive development is a gradual, continuous process or a series of distinct stages.

Scientific study of the processes and changes in thinking and learning across the lifespan.

How research on cognitive development can be used to improve teaching and learning.

Playing games that can enhance early cognitive skills, like numerical understanding.

Educational programs that help children with developmental challenges.

The ongoing development of the brain, particularly throughout childhood and adolescence.

Different periods of intellectual growth, characterized by distinct ways of thinking.

Whether cognitive development is a gradual process (like a tree growing) or has distinct stages (like a ladybug's life cycle).

Four proposed stages of children's cognitive development: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational.

Stage (birth-2 yrs) where thinking is based on senses and actions. Limited mental representations.

Stage (2-6/7 yrs) where children can use symbols but struggle with multiple dimensions.

Understanding that an amount stays the same despite alteration in shape or appearance.

A classic test of formal operational thought, requiring systematic experimentation to identify the variables affecting pendulum movement.

The view that cognitive abilities develop gradually and steadily over time.

The view that cognitive development occurs in distinct stages, with qualitative changes between them.

Swiss psychologist who proposed a stage theory of cognitive development.

Change in the nature or type of entity involved.

Change in quantity or amount of something, without fundamental alteration.