Child Development
Piaget, Erikson, Kohlberg & Developmental Milestones
Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory
Jean Piaget proposed that children go through four distinct stages of cognitive development.
1. Sensorimotor Stage (0-2 years)
Infants learn through sensory experiences and motor activities.
- Object Permanence: Understanding objects exist even when out of sight
- Learning through touch, sight, sound
- Develops from reflexes to intentional actions
2. Preoperational Stage (2-7 years)
Development of language and symbolic thinking, but thinking is illogical.
- Egocentrism: Cannot see from another's perspective
- Centration: Focus on one aspect at a time
- Animism: Believes inanimate objects have feelings
- Difficulty with conservation (quantity remains same despite shape change)
3. Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years)
Logical thinking develops, but limited to concrete objects.
- Conservation: Understands quantity is conserved
- Reversibility: Actions can be reversed mentally
- Classification: Can group objects by multiple criteria
- Decreased egocentrism
4. Formal Operational Stage (11+ years)
Abstract and hypothetical thinking develops.
- Abstract Thinking: Can think about concepts and ideas
- Hypothetical Reasoning: "What if" scenarios
- Deductive Logic: General principles to specific conclusions
- Systematic problem-solving
Key Piaget Concepts
Schema: Mental framework for organizing information
Assimilation: Adding new info to existing schema
Accommodation: Modifying schema for new info
Equilibration: Balancing assimilation and accommodation
Erikson's Psychosocial Development
Erik Erikson proposed 8 stages of psychosocial development across the lifespan.
| Stage | Age | Crisis | Virtue Developed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0-1 year | Trust vs Mistrust | Hope |
| 2 | 1-3 years | Autonomy vs Shame/Doubt | Will |
| 3 | 3-6 years | Initiative vs Guilt | Purpose |
| 4 | 6-12 years | Industry vs Inferiority | Competence |
| 5 | 12-18 years | Identity vs Role Confusion | Fidelity |
| 6 | Young Adult | Intimacy vs Isolation | Love |
| 7 | Middle Adult | Generativity vs Stagnation | Care |
| 8 | Late Adult | Integrity vs Despair | Wisdom |
LET Focus: Elementary School Age (6-12)
Industry vs Inferiority: Children develop a sense of competence through school achievements and social interactions. Failure to develop skills can lead to feelings of inferiority.
Teacher's Role: Provide opportunities for success, encourage effort, and build confidence.
Kohlberg's Moral Development
Lawrence Kohlberg proposed 3 levels of moral development, each with 2 stages.
Level 1: Pre-Conventional (Ages 4-10)
Morality based on external rewards and punishments.
Stage 1: Punishment-Obedience
"I'll get in trouble if I do this."
Stage 2: Instrumental Purpose
"What's in it for me?"
Level 2: Conventional (Ages 10-13)
Morality based on social approval and maintaining order.
Stage 3: Good Boy/Good Girl
"I want to be liked and approved."
Stage 4: Law and Order
"Rules are rules and must be followed."
Level 3: Post-Conventional (Adolescence-Adult)
Morality based on abstract principles and universal rights.
Stage 5: Social Contract
"Laws should protect everyone's rights."
Stage 6: Universal Principles
"Conscience guides moral decisions."
Other Important Theorists
Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory
- Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): Gap between what a child can do alone vs. with help
- Scaffolding: Support provided to help child learn, then gradually removed
- More Knowledgeable Other (MKO): Person who guides learning (teacher, peer, parent)
- Language is crucial for cognitive development
Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory
- Microsystem: Immediate environment (family, school)
- Mesosystem: Connections between microsystems
- Exosystem: Indirect environments (parent's workplace)
- Macrosystem: Cultural values and laws
- Chronosystem: Changes over time
Freud's Psychosexual Development
- Oral (0-1): Pleasure from mouth
- Anal (1-3): Pleasure from bowel control
- Phallic (3-6): Focus on genitals; Oedipus/Electra complex
- Latency (6-12): Sexual feelings dormant
- Genital (12+): Mature sexual interests
Developmental Milestones
Physical Development
- Gross motor: Large muscle movements (running, jumping)
- Fine motor: Small muscle movements (writing, cutting)
- Growth spurts during puberty
Cognitive Development
- Language acquisition
- Memory development
- Problem-solving skills
Social-Emotional Development
- Attachment formation
- Peer relationships
- Self-concept and self-esteem
Language Development
- Cooing and babbling (infancy)
- First words (around 12 months)
- Vocabulary explosion (2+ years)