MODULE 16 Cognitive Development of Pre-schoolers.

Cognitive development refers to reasoning, thinking and understanding.

Cognitive development is important for knowledge growth.
How do preschoolers develop cognitive skills?
Preschoolers often ask lots of questions and start understanding more complex concepts.
Children learn best when you let them lead play.
Preschooler's Symbolic and Intuitive thinking.
SYMBOLIC STAGES preschool children show progress in their cognitive development by able able to draw
objects that are not present, by their dramatic increase in their language make believe play.
INTUITIVE STAGES Preschool begin to use primitive reasoning and ask litany questions. The development in
their language ability facilitates their endless asking questions.
Brain connection in preschool years
Brain research has also pointed out the crucial role environment. Experts have shown specific areas of brain
activity that respond to environmental stimulation.
Language Development
Young children's understanding sometimes gets a head of their speech. As a children go through early
childhood, their grasp of the rules of language increases.
PHONOLOGY Study of speech and sound
SEMANTICS Study of word meaning and word combination
SYNTAX The study of sentence constructions.
PRAGMATICS The study of conversation or social uses of language
Fast mapping A process by which a children absorb the meaning of a new word after hearing it once or
twice in a conversation
Information Processing Theory Attention and Memory
Information processing model- is another way of examining and understanding how children develop
cognitively. It conceptualizes children ' s mental process through the metaphor of a computer processing,
encoding, storing, and decoding data.
The Young Children's Theory of Mind. Theory of mind- refers to the individuals thoughts how about mental
processes work. It includes awareness of one's thought processes, social cognition, understanding that can
people can hold false beliefs , ability to deceive , to distinguish appearance from reality and ability to
distinguish fantasy from reality.
Quick look on what preschoolers can do
Receptive language (3-5 years old) The child is able to understand both verbal and non verbal.
Pre-math (matching) The child is able to match identical objects, colors, shapes, and symbols.
Pre-reading and pre-math (copying letters and numbers The child is able to recite the alphabet and
numbers in sequence.
Questioning
When a child asks ‘ why?’ to determine causes and asks questions to solve problems, and clarify their
understanding.
Spatial Relationships Exploring the spatial and physical aspects of their environment. For example, when a
child places a toy into a container, dumps it out and then fills up the container again with the toy.
Problem Solving When children experiment, investigate, and work together with other children to problem
solve. For example, when children ask questions to understand what will happen next.
Imitation When children imitate the behaviors of those around them (e.g. other children, educators and
parents). For example, when a child sticks their tongue out imitated another child stick their tongue out.
Memory Beginning to differentiate between objects and people, and learn their daily routines. For example,
when a child puts away their toy bin back in the same place it was on the shelf before.
Number Sense A child’ s understanding of number concepts and number relationships. They begin to
understand quantities, recognize relationships and understand the order of numbers. For example, singing
along to ‘Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed’ .
Classification A child’ s ability to categorize, sort, group, and connect objects. For example, sorting different
colored pom poms into the same colored boxes.
Symbolic Play During play, children use objects, ideas and actions to stand for other things. For example,
holding a toy phone up to their ear or rocking a baby back and forth.
3 Ways to Promote Your Child’s Cognitive Development
1. Practice the Alphabet Sing along to the ‘ABC’ song, read books about the alphabet to help children
identify letters.
2. Practice Counting Provide opportunities for children to practice counting by counting the numbers of
different objects found in their environment.
3. Practice Colours and Shapes Identify the many different colors and shapes found in the environment to
your child.
During preschool and kindergarten, children are beginning to ask questions, practice new skills, try new
things and take risks. Educators and parents play a vital role in supporting children’s cognitive
development. As an educator or parent, we need to encourage and provide opportunities for children to
learn, enhance and practice their new and emerging cognitive skills
MODULE 17 SOCIO-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRESCHOOLERS
Socio-Emotional Development-provides the preschooler a sense of who they are in the world. It is also the
child’s ability to understand the feelings of others and also controlling their own feelings and behavior.
Crisis- it is a unique development of task or challenge to be confronted and completed.
Initiative is the capability to devise actions or projects, confidence and believe that it is okay to do so on,
even with the risk of failure or marking mistakes
Guilt- means the feeling that is wrong or inappropriate to investigate something of one’s own design.
The Developing child who successfully resolves this crisis learns to;
 To manage, broaden his/her skills through active play of all sorts
 To lead as well as follow.
On the other hand, if the child unsuccessfully resolves the “crisis” at this stage, he/she can;
 Hang on the fringers of group rather than join in.
 Continue to depend to much in adults.
DEVELOPMENT OF PRESCHOOLERS’ SENSE OF SELF AND SELF-ESTEEM
SELF-ESTEEM- a judgment about one’s worth. It refers to a feeling of having respect for yourself and
abilities.
Preschooler learn “Self-esteem” through developing;
Sense of Trust- parents who are responsive, dependable, respectful, and consistent help children to
developing sense of trust.
Sense of Independence- Set predictable routines, let child choose, let child help, let child solve problems,
encourage projects and nurture free play.
Sense of Initiative- If the child is placed in an environment where he/she can explore, make decisions, and
initiate activities, they have achieved initiative.
THE 6 STAGES OF PLAY (MILDRED PARTEN)
PLAY- engage activity for fun.
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Why is it important for a teacher to be aware of physical and motor development?
The instructor might appropriately determine if a particular kid has learning challenges and need further aid
or support by understanding the distinct phases of a child's development (Mental, Behavioural, and Gross-
Motor). This is also a means for them to learn how to reprimand them correctly if they misbehave.
Why is learning about cognitive development important for teachers?
Theories of cognitive development and psychology can assist explain how children learn and process
information. Educators may use this knowledge to construct more effective teaching techniques by
understanding it.
How teacher can support the cognitive development of their students?
Using a pictorial timetable, modifying seating arrangements, or sharing vocabulary phrases with students
before reading them a narrative are some examples of what instructors may do in their classrooms to
accommodate children with specific learning needs.
Why is social-emotional learning important for teachers?
SEL aids teachers in coping with stress and burnout.
They are more in tune with their emotions and aware of the things that cause them stress when they
practice self-awareness (one of the five SEL abilities). They can employ coping skills to lessen the chance of
being overwhelmed if they are aware of the triggers.
How can teachers support social and emotional development?
Teachers can use children's books, create activities, coach on the spot, provide effective praise, model
acceptable actions, and provide clues to improve children's social and emotional health.
Why do teachers play an important role in the child's social and emotional development of a child?
Teachers play a critical role in helping children learn to control their emotions and form positive peer
relationships. Teachers are increasingly being asked to help in their students' emotional development by
creating emotional literacy programs and providing preventative interventions.