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

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

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) 

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

6 Subcategories of Sensorimotor Stage Substage 1 (0 - 1 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 (8 - 12 months) Coordinated Secondary Circular Reactions Substage 5 (12 - 18 months) Tertiary Circular Reactions Substage 6 (18 - 24 months) Beginnings of Symbolic Representation

Substage 1: Reflex Schemas Substage 1 (0 - 1 1/2 months) Reflex Schemas Involuntary response to stimuli EX: Sucking, yawning, blinking

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

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

Substage 3: Secondary Circular Reactions Continued… 7 Months—Object permanency Knowledge that an object exists even when not in view. EXAMPLE: http://tinyurl.com/4883qf4 Baby Ella knows where the object is even though it is not in plain sight.

Substage 4: Coordinated Secondary Circular Reactions Substage 4 (8 - 12 months) Coordinated Secondary Circular Reactions Can put secondary reactions together to form and solve new problems Ex: Cover/uncover, lift/put down

Substage 5: Tertiary Circular Reactions Substage 5 (12 - 18 months) Tertiary Circular Reactions Will deliberately change/alter an action to discover consequences Ex: Drop ball from different heights, talk at different levels

Substage 6: Beginnings of Symbolic Representation Substage 6 (18 - 24 months) Beginnings of Symbolic Representation Can solve problems using representation Ex: Talk through problems, imagination

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

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)

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

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

References http://www.funderstanding.com/content/piaget http://www.piaget.org/aboutPiaget.html http://muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/piaget.htm http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/piaget.htm http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/cogsys/piaget.html http://www.mathcs.duq.edu/~packer/Courses/Psy225/Object.html http://www.odessa.edu/dept/psyc/wells/2308/fall/pe.htm