Early Childhood Development: Piaget, Vygotsky, and Language

What age range does early childhood cover?

3 years to kindergarten (5/6 years of age)

What are gross motor skills?

Large muscle movements such as running, climbing, and hopping.

What are fine motor skills?

Small coordinated movements like buttoning a shirt, drawing faces, and writing one's name.

How do fine motor skills predict early academic success?

They are linked to preschool finger dexterity, which aids in counting and math skills.

What are some threats to physical skills in early childhood?

Lack of outdoor play, poor nutrition, and dangerous neighborhoods.

What is Piaget's preoperational stage?

A developmental stage from ages 3 to 7 where children struggle with conservation tasks and think primarily in terms of immediate appearances.

What is conservation in developmental psychology?

Understanding that a quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or arrangement.

What is an example of a conservation task involving number?

A child perceives two rows of coins as equal until one row is spaced out, then they say the spaced row has more.

What is identity constancy?

The understanding that a person's core self remains the same despite changes in external appearance.

What is animistic thinking?

The belief that inanimate objects are alive or have feelings.

What is egocentrism in early childhood?

The inability to take the perspective of others, as demonstrated in the 3 mountain task.

What is Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development?

The difference between what a child can do independently and what they can achieve with guidance.

What is scaffolding in education?

A temporary support system provided by an adult to help a child master a task.

What is the significance of language in Vygotsky's theory?

Language scaffolds all learning and thinking, often manifesting as inner speech.

What is a phoneme?

The smallest unit of sound in a language.

What is a morpheme?

The smallest unit of a word that carries meaning.

What does mean length of utterance (MLU) measure?

The average number of morphemes per sentence, which increases as a child ages.

What is overregularization in language development?

Applying regular grammatical rules to irregular words, such as saying 'runned' instead of 'ran'.

What is overextension in language development?

Using a word too broadly, such as calling every old lady 'Nana'.

What is underextension in language development?

Applying a word too narrowly, such as believing only their own 'Nana' is a grandmother.

What is childhood amnesia?

The inability to remember memories before the age of 3.

What strengthens autobiographical memories in children?

Understanding of self and past talk conversations with caregivers.

What is Erikson's psychosocial stage of Initiative vs. Guilt?

A stage where children test their skills and may feel guilt if they fear failure.

What is Theory of Mind?

The understanding that other people have different beliefs and perspectives.

What is the False Belief Task?

A test used to measure a child's understanding of Theory of Mind, where they predict where someone will look for an object based on their last knowledge.

What are the purposes of pretend play?

To practice adult roles, develop a sense of control, and understand social norms.

What is the difference in play styles between boys and girls in early childhood?

Boys tend to engage in more competitive, active play, while girls often engage in calmer, collaborative play.