Jean Piaget: 1896-1980

At odds with behaviorism

1st to say that children think differently than adults

Children actively create knowledge as they manipulate/explore the world (opposite of Vygotsky)

All children will go through his 4 stages that are based on biology

Focused on intellectual development

Thought, judgement, & knowledge

Critical: method of transition

Must complete one stage before moving to the next

No skipping/going backwards (unless trauma is present)

Each stage is marked by…

New abilities

More complex understanding

Observation of his own kids

Presented them w/ problems to solve

Before Piaget, children were seen as mini adults

Now, childhood is a unique & important part of development

Development MUST precede learning (opposite of Vygotsky)

Movement from one stage to another is based on biological maturation (age)

Children learn best through discovery learning - they are “little scientists”

Cognitive development always follows his stages in order; each stage has distinct ways of thinking

Schema: Units of knowledge organized by a specific way of thinking - building blocks of knowledge

Children view the world through schemas (how we interpret things)

Stays the same until challenge to definition

Ex: how you picture a dog in your head

Innate schemas - Grasping, sucking, and rooting for food

Adaptation: Based on biology, used to change and learn cognitively

How we do that-

Equilibration: What moves cognitive development along

When assimilation no longer works and we have to use accommodation to change our schemas + balance our understanding

Object Permanence: Object exists, even if not seen

0-2 yrs old

Child learns by doing

Use 5 senses & physical interaction to discover the world

Focus on what’s right in front of them

Increased mobility = increased cognitive development

Key checkpoint: 9 months

Children start to develop object permanence & memory

2-7 yrs old

Uses language + symbols

Become egocentric

Think everyone sees the world from their perspective

Symbolic play - language=objects

Does NOT