Cognitive Development in Infancy and Early Childhood

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on cognitive development concepts in infancy and early childhood.

Piaget's Theory

A theory of cognitive development that suggests children actively construct knowledge as they explore their world.

Schemas

Mental structures that organize experiences and regulate behavior, according to Piaget.

Assimilation

The process of integrating new information into existing cognitive schemas.

Accommodation

The process of changing existing cognitive schemas to incorporate new information.

Equilibrium

A state in which cognitive schemas are in balance, and adaptation processes of assimilation and accommodation are harmonious.

Sensorimotor Stage

Piaget's first stage of cognitive development, occurring from birth to approximately 2 years, characterized by exploration of the environment and understanding objects.

Object Permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen; typically developed by 18 months.

Egocentrism

The inability of a child in the preoperational stage to see the world from another's perspective.

Centration

Focusing on one aspect of a situation and neglecting others; typical of preoperational children.

Guided Participation

An interactive learning process where children learn through collaboration with more skilled partners.

Zone of Proximal Development

The difference between what children can do independently and what they can do with guidance.

Intersubjectivity

A mutual understanding among participants in an interaction, reflected in shared knowledge.

Private Speech

Comments made by children that are intended to help regulate their own behavior, also a step toward self-regulation.

Phonemes

The basic units of sound in a language used to create words.

Fast Mapping

The rapid process by which children learn new words by associating them with known concepts.

Telegraphic Speech

Early speech used by children that conveys meaning with minimal words, typically omitting function words.

Overregularization

The application of regular grammatical rules to words that are exceptions, such as saying 'two mans' instead of 'two men.'

Bilingualism

The ability to use two languages proficiently, which may involve mixing languages in early stages.

Expressive Style

A language-learning style where a child uses many social phrases and expressions learned as single units.

Referential Style

A language-learning style characterized by a vocabulary dominated by names of objects, persons, or actions.