Infancy and Early Childhood Paper Essay

I cogitate Piagets supposition of cognitive growing best rationalises the cognitive increment both in infancy and early youngsterhood. His theory is explained by a theory of cognitive organization called schemes. Schemes argon the actions or psychic re gratuityations that conjure knowledge (Santrock, 2008, p. 94). According to his theory, schemes change with age in other words, they are action-based (motor patterns) at setoff and then gradually change to a mental (thinking) take. on that point are several key terms that explain Piagets process of growingal change those include adaptation, assimilation, accommodation, organization, and equilibration.Sensorimotor decimal point is the first of the Piagets theory of cognitive development. It lasts from yield to the about 2 historic period of age, where awareness of the world is limited to what can be kn give birth through sensory awareness and motor acts. Furthermore, Piaget divided the sensorimotor stage into sextupl et sub-stages 1) simple reflexes (2) first habits and primary invoice reactions (3) utility(prenominal) circular reactions (4) coordination of supportary coil circular reactions (5) tertiary circular reactions, novelty, and curiosity and (6) internalization of schemes (Santrock, 2008, p. 96).Reflexive Schemes this is present in newborns. Initially, the infants actions are coordinated through reflex(prenominal) behaviors, much(prenominal) as rooting and sucking. But gradually the infant produces behaviors that tally reflexes in the absence of the usual stimulus for the reflex (Santrock, 2008).Primary circular reactions it develops amidst 1 and 4 months of age. In this stage, infants begin to adapt their reflexes to their purlieu simple motor habits are centered around own bole (Caulfield, 2001)Secondary circular reactions it develops between 4 and 8 months of age. The focus of infants exploration shits to external events. Infants develop awareness that objects continue to e xist even when not in sight at about 8 months of age (Caulfield, 2001)Coordination of secondary circular reactions develops between 8 and 12 months of age. Infants begin to demonstrate lettered behavior and anticipate events they coordinate separate actions to achieve desired goals (Caulfield, 2001). ordinal circular reactions develops between 12 and 18 months of age. Infants reach an advanced level of proficiency they begin to explore properties of objects through novel actions (Caulfield, 2001).Internalization of schemes develops between 18 and 24 months of age. Their ability to range the external world internally begins to develop, also called as symbolic representation. Also, deferred imitation, the ability to retain and copy a representation of an observed behavior, begins to develop (Caulfield, 2001).I also believe Piagets theory best explains the cognitive development in early childhood as well. His Preoperational period, the second stage of Piagets theory of cognitive deve lopment lasts from approximately 2 to 7 years of age. In this age, children begin to represent the world with words, images, and drawings. Not only that, they begin to form stable concepts and enroll on reasoning (Santrock, 2008, p. 145). Also, egocentricism (inability to distinguish between ones own perspective and someone elses perspective) and magical beliefs also begin to draw a role in childs cognitive development. There are different sub-stages of the preoperational stage.Symbolic function sub-stage is the first sub-stage of the pre-operational thought. In this stage, the child has the capability to mentally represent an object that is not physically present. This stage occurs between the ages of 2 and 4 years of age.The Intuitive Thought Sub-stage, the second sub-stage of preoperational thought that broadly occurs between 4 and 7 years of age. In this stage, children are tempted to ask many questions. In other words, one of the just about prominent words for the children around this age is why. There are many similarities and differences between the Piagets theory of cognitive development that explains infancy and early childhood.SimilaritiesBoth the selected theories that I believe best describes cognitive development in infancy and early childhood come from Piaget.Both theories pack stages (Sensorimotor and preoperational) and are further divided into sub-stages.Both theories rely on the laying claim that infants and children actively construct an understanding of the world.Both theories give a clock time frame of when the stages and the sub- stages occurBoth theories have limitations.DifferencesSensorimotor stage deals with infants from birth to 2 years of age and Preoperational stage deals with early childhood that generally occurs between the ages of 2 and 7.Sensorimotor is the stage one of the Piagets theory of cognitive development whereas preoperational period is stage two of his theory.The limitation of the sensorimotor stages rests on t he accuracy of the timing of the events that Piaget mentioned whereas the limitation of the Pre-operational thought rests on the concepts such as centration and conservation.Therefore, in this paper, I have considered Piagets theory to explain cognitive development in both infancy and early childhood. I have also considered the similarities and differences between the two theories.ReferencesCaulfield, R. A. (2001). Infants and toddlers. Upper Saddle River, NJ Prentice HallSantrock, J. W. (2008). Essentials of life-span development. NY McGraw-Hill.