1. Toddler – Cognitive Development

2. AVERAGE COGNITIVE MILESTONES IN THE TODDLER STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT
One Year Old
Two Year Old
Sounds
Words
Finds hidden objects
Says about 272 words, phrases, and simple sentences
Understands simple directions
Identifies simple pictures
Likes to look at books
Attempts basic reasoning skills
Understands time concept of “before” and “after”
Enjoys coloring and painting

3. 1. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT:
Shaped by both heredity and the child’s environment.
A positive environment that promotes learning and stimulates the senses.
Positive interactions with caregivers
Availability and variety of appropriate playthings and manipulatives
Plenty of encouragement and positive attitudes

4. 2. Jean Piaget Stages
Toddler’s are in the end of Jean Piaget’s sensorimotor stage and advancing into the preoperational stage.

5. Sensorimotor Stage – (12-24 months)
2a. JEAN PIAGET: TODDLER
Sensorimotor Stage – (12-24 months)
explores and experiments
solves problems
uses imagination
learn through senses/actions
finds hidden objects
(object permanence)

6. 2b. JEAN PIAGET: TODDLER PREOPERATIONAL STAGE – (2-7 YEARS OLD)
***Provide concrete (see and touch) experiences to make connections = hands on objects, activities, visual.
2b. JEAN PIAGET: TODDLER
PREOPERATIONAL STAGE – (2-7 YEARS OLD)
Think in terms of own activities and what they perceive at the moment
Learn through imaginative play
View world in egocentric manner (“MINE”)
Begin to identify symbols and meaning
Symbols = words

7. 3. FOUR METHODS OF LEARNING
a)Incidental Learning = Unplanned learning
b)Trial and Error = A child tries several solutions before finding one that works
c)Imitation = watching and copying others d)Directed Learning = formal instruction (example – classroom setting)

8. 4. CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
As a child learns to think, they begin to organize information received from their SENSES into CONCEPTS .
General categories of objects and information.
fruits, color, shape, animals
Anything that moves is alive
dog = all 4 legged animals
ball = all round objects are a ball

9. Promoting Cognitive Development
Giving time and attention
Take advantage of simple everyday learning opportunities
Allow time for thinking, exploring, and discovering their world (problem solving and decision making)
Give only as much help as the child needs to succeed
Encourage children to draw their own conclusions – “Let’s find out” (see and do) vs. giving them an explanation.
Use Sensory stimulation and concrete learning
Model problem solving so they can hear how to think their way to a solution.
Maintain positive attitude
Keep explanations simple and on the child’s level

10. ***During this period, most children use 1-3 word/s rather than whole sentences
5. Language Development
Reading to a toddler is important for language and cognitive development
Encourage language development by modeling correct speech
In early speech/language development, nouns are learned first.

11. 6. TECHNIQUES FOR READING OUT LOUD (Choose 3)
Choose age appropriate books
Reading a story is like putting on a play
Snuggle up close so all can see
Keep your focus on the child not the story
Encourage participation, ie: turn pages
Explain unknown words
Point to the words of familiar objects
Read and re-read as often as the child likes
Let the child guide the pace of the story
Read at least 20 minutes every day to your child