“Children have a real understanding only of that which they invent themselves.” – Jean Piaget, Psychologist
Ever wondered why your baby laughs as if you have just performed the world’s funniest act with peek-a-boo? To you, it might be simple. But to them, it’s a mind blowing discovery which represents that something can disappear and still exist.
And, that’s where a moment marks the beginning of their cognitive development, where their brain starts to understand concepts like object permanence.
We often wonder at how fast children grow physically, but their minds grow just as beautifully, in ways we sometimes miss.
Did you know psychologist Jean Piaget eloquently explained this journey through the four phases of cognitive development. Come, let’s discuss the 4 phases of child cognitive development and how to help little ones throughout the process in this insightful blog.
What Does Jean Piaget Explain Child Cognitive Development?
Jean Piaget, the Swiss psychologist who prominently changed how we see childhood. He believed every child is different and outlined four distinct phases of child cognitive development.
According to Piaget, children are like curious little scientists. They don’t just absorb facts, they actively build their understanding by exploring, playing, and making sense of everything around them. Here’s what he meant:
- Children are not “mini adults.”They think and reason differently at different ages.
- They actively construct knowledge.Kids learn by interacting with their environment, experimenting, and making sense of their experiences.
- Learning is a process of adaptation.Children use two key processes, assimilation, meaning fitting new information into what they already know and accommodation, which is about changing their understanding to fit new information.
4 Phases of Child Cognitive Development
Just like seasons change, so do the ways children understand the world. Piaget incredibly mapped this journey into four noteworthy phases:
1. Sensorimotor Stage (Birth to 2 Years)
In the first step of child cognitive development, the sensorimotor phase tops it all. It’s when babies learn through senses and movement. One of their biggest milestones during this phase is understanding object permanence, which is realizing that hidden things still exist.
At Mom and I, a mother toddler program in Punjabi Bagh, and the house of Mother’s Pride we use sensory play and music to help infants connect with their environments.
2. Preoperational Stage (2 to 7 Years)
The preoperational stage is characterized by swift language growth and the emergence of symbolic thought. In this phase, toddlers start to indulge in imaginative play, creating detailed scenarios with toys, dolls, and even imaginary friends.
At Mom and I, we introduce storytelling & simple sentences, pretend play and art to young minds so that their creative expression can blossom.
3. Concrete Operational Stage (7 to 11 Years)
The third stage in child cognitive development is when children begin to think logically about real, tangible events. They develop the concept of conservation, the understanding that quantity remains constant despite changes in shape or appearance. For instance, a child at this stage realizes that water poured from a short, wide glass into a tall, thin one still has the same amount, even if it looks different.
Activities like introducing ABCD with number concepts, such as ABCDs with numbers from A to Z by teaching letters with their corresponding numbers, can help reinforce logical thinking skills and strengthen connections between abstract symbols and real-world quantities.
4. Formal Operational Stage (12 Years and Up)
The formal operational stage, the final phase in Piaget’s theory, generally begins around age 12 and extends into adulthood. During this stage, individuals acquire the capacity for abstract thinking, advanced logical reasoning, and future-oriented planning.
Adolescents become capable of evaluating hypothetical scenarios and applying spatial reasoning to draw conclusions.
How Can Caregivers Help Them in Child Cognitive Development?
Caregivers play a crucial role in shaping a child’s cognitive development. They act as the first friends, emotional anchors, and guides in a child’s early education journey. Here’s how they can help in different ways:
1. Provide a Stimulating Environment
How: Surround toddlers with age-appropriate toys, books, music, and colors.
Example: Reading picture books daily or playing with building blocks can enhance memory, problem-solving, and language skills.
2. Encourage Exploration and Curiosity
How: Allow children to ask questions and explore new things safely.
Example: If a toddler points at the sky, explain about clouds and rain. Such interactions help them get closer to nature.
3. Engage in Meaningful Conversations
How: Talk to them often, even about simple daily activities.
Example: While cooking, describe what you are doing. For example, “I’m cutting an apple. Apples are juicy, sweet and red.” This helps with vocabulary and reasoning.
4. Play with Them Actively
How: Participate in pretend play, puzzles, and games that require spatial thinking.
Example: Role-playing as a shopkeeper and customer helps with social understanding and problem-solving.
5. Model Problem-Solving and Patience
How: Show them how to deal with challenges calmly. Because children learn better from what they see, not from what you say.
Example: When a toy breaks, instead of getting upset, say, “Let’s see how we can fix it.” This teaches resilience and patience.
Offer Praise and Positive Affirmation Often
How: Celebrate their small wins to boost confidence.
Example: Saying “Wow, you stacked all the blocks!” motivates them to try harder tasks.
Conclusion
As India’s first-ever mother toddler program from the house of Mother’s Pride, Mom & I, founded by Mrs. Sheena Singh Gupta, brings together parents from diverse paths to nurture their child’s early and cognitive development.
Childhood is beautiful and with Mother’s Pride, the most loved preschool in Delhi, this beauty blossoms with love, every single day.
At Mom and I, the strongest learning happens when a child feels secure in their mother’s presence. Through sensory play, music, storytelling, and interactive activities, toddlers explore the world while mothers are empowered to celebrate their individuality and embrace life beyond being a mom.
