Study Guide 6: Physical and Cognitive Development in Childhood

This set of flashcards focuses on key vocabulary terms and concepts related to physical and cognitive development in childhood, as outlined in the study guide.

Left Cerebral Hemisphere

Especially active between ages 3 and 6, associated with language development.

Right Hemisphere

Increases in activity steadily throughout early and middle childhood, associated with spatial skills.

Cerebellum

Aids in balance and control of body.

Reticular Formation

Maintains alertness and consciousness.

Amygdala

Processes novelty and emotional information.

Hippocampus

Plays a role in memory and spatial orientation.

Corpus Callosum

Connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres.

Mental Representation

Language is a flexible means of mental representation; combines concepts for efficient thinking.

Symbol—Real-World Relations

Preschoolers understand that symbols correspond to real-world objects or ideas.

Make-Believe Play

Practices representational schemes; evolves from self-centered to complex combinations.

Egocentrism

Failure to distinguish others' viewpoints from one's own.

Animistic Thinking

Attributing life-like qualities to inanimate objects.

Lack of Hierarchical Classification

Difficulty organizing objects into classes and subclasses.

Inability to Conserve

Understanding that physical properties remain the same despite changes in appearance.

Centration

Focusing on one aspect of a situation, neglecting others.

Irreversibility

Inability to mentally reverse a series of steps in a problem.

Conservation (Concrete Operational Stage)

Understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape.

Reversibility (Concrete Operational Stage)

Ability to mentally undo actions.

Decentration (Concrete Operational Stage)

Focusing on multiple aspects of a situation.

Classification

Grouping objects into categories based on similarities and differences.

Seriation

Ordering items by size, number, etc.

Cognitive Self-Regulation

When older children struggle with planning and focus due to ongoing brain development.

Theory of Mind

Children’s awareness of mental life, including understanding thoughts and emotions from age 1 to 6.

Elaborative Style

Adult interaction that aids memory by using open-ended questions and adding details.

Repetitive Style

Adult interaction that focuses on asking the same simple questions, lacking detail.

Scripts

Mental outlines for the usual steps in familiar activities, aiding memory.

Bilingual Education

Supports cognitive and academic development in ethnic minority children by promoting both languages.