1. Overview Cognitive development Core knowledge
Language development and domain interactions

2. Piaget's Sensorimotor stage
0-2 years
Object Permanence
The understanding that objects and persons continue to exist even when they cannot be seen (8-12 mos.)
A-not-B error, perseverance

4. Object permanence
Examples

5. Baby math…Really? Infants’ understanding of number
Wynn studies and limitations:
Can 5-month-olds really add and subtract?
1 + 1 = 1 vs = 2

6. Baby math…Really?

7. Baby math…Really? Can 5-month-olds really add and subtract?
Simpler explanation: Familiarity vs. Core Knowledge
Common and parsimonious!
 Recent studies claim large number computations (5+5 & 10-5)…but similar concerns

8. Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development
ZOPD: range in which
child can almost perform task independently
can definitely perform with help
Cognitive development proceeds from social interaction, working together to solve problems
Scaffolding: support for learning/problem solving that encourages independence and growth, implications for education…

9. Children’s Drawings Important vehicle of symbolic expression
In every culture where children are given the opportunity to draw, drawing appears to pass through the same sequence of stages
Children’s Drawings before age 3:
1. Scribble: not as concerned with the "look" of the product as with the enjoyment of moving their hands

10. Three perspectives
Nativist
Behaviorist
Interactionist

11. Three perspectives Nativist (Chomsky) Innate, brain-based LAD
Universal rules common to all languages
Evidence?
Newborn sensitivities
Similar milestone sequence
Unique to humans
Sensitive period

12. Three perspectives Behaviorist (Skinner)
Operant conditioning/reinforcement
Imitation
Evidence?
Numerous examples of conditioning, reinforcement, imitation of language
Your examples?

13. Three perspectives Interactionist (NxN) e.g., information processing
e.g., social interaction
Evidence?
Cognitive processing models (statistical learning, prototype formation)
Nativism + social learning of complex grammar
Language experiences , bidirectional influences

14. Three perspectives?
DOMAIN INTERACTIONS!

15. The example of Genie

16. Human language Three major accomplishments:
Semanticity = words serve as symbols
Productivity = infinite generativity
Displacement = communicate about things in another time/place

17. Human language Infants and toddlers: Early
Preverbal = babbling, crying, gestures
One word “Dada”
Later
2 words (telegraphic speech) “Mama get.”
Nouns then verbs (Ball, throw)
Simple sentences: “Aidan likes juice.”

18. Language development: Gestures
Common, useful, natural pre-language communication mechanism (e.g., pointing)
Current trends: Baby Signs
Research suggests it is helpful, but not likely to either make baby more advanced or to harm language development when used in moderation
Primary benefit: Clearer communication between adults and infants, reduced frustration

19. Language development: Speech sounds and early experience
Early experience with native language, begin with broad discrimination ability
Perceptual narrowing: loss of discrimination ability by 12 months based on early language experience
Examples: Hindi (da, da), Japanese (r)

20. Language development events and research
Baby Einstein, Disney, and TV
Baby Einstein-No!
Talking to vs. with children, responsiveness & variation sets
Non-stop chatter and Chinese-language news?
Scaffolding options that work

21. Language development
Found locked in her bedroom age thirteen with the stature of a 7-year-old
From 20 months: malnourished, isolated to confinement, locked to a potty chair during the day, strapped to her bed at night.
Father forbade his wife and son to speak to her. She lived in almost total isolation.
When Genie was found, she had endured 13 years of sensory and social deprivation in the solitude of her bedroom. She had not yet learned to speak.
Genie never recovered basic social/emotional, cognitive, language function etc.

22. Language development The case of Genie
Significance of domain interactions
Social, cognitive, physical, language development
e.g., Upcoming: Aggression = Cognitive X Social