Module X111:

COGNITIVE
DEVELOPMENT OF
INFANTS AND
TODDLERS

Prepared By: Vergara, Derek

and
Salim, Jheia
 Topics;

 Jean Piaget’s Four Stages

Of Cognitive Development
( review)
Six Substages Of The
Sensorimotor Development
Learning and Remembering
Language Development
Language Acquisition
JEAN PIAGET’S BASIC COGNITIVE CONCEPTS

Schema Assimilation Accommodation Equilibration

Fitting new The process of The balance
Refer to cognitive
structure which experiences into making new between
individuals an existing or schema assimilation and
intellectually adapt previously accommodation
to and recognize created
their environment. cognitive
structure or
schema.
 Sensorimotor Pre- Operational Concrete – Formal
Stage Stage Operational Stage Operational Stage
(Birth to Infancy) (2-7 yrs. Old) (8-11 yrs. Old) (12 – 15 yrs. Old)
Sensorimotor focuses Intelligence at this The stage were a child can They can solve abstract
on the prominence of stage is intuitive. think logically but only in problem and hypothesize.
the senses and muscle
terms of concrete objects.
movement through
 Highlight  Characterized by the
which the infant comes
to learn about himself Symbolic function  Highlight following;
and the world. Animism Reversibility Hypothetical reasoning
Egocentric Decentering Analogical reasoning
 Highlight Centration Conservation Deductive reasoning
Object permanence Seriation

PIAGET’S STAGES OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

 Piaget’s Substages of Sensorimotor
Sub- Stage Description

1.Simple Reflexes (Birth-6 weeks) Sensation and actions coordinated through

reflexes

2.First habits and primary circular reactions Coordination of sensation and two types of
phase schemes: habit (reflex) and primary circular
( 6 weeks – 4 months) reactions.

3.Secondary circular reactions phase Object - oriented , repetition of actions due to

(4-8 months) consequences.
 Piaget’s Substages of Sensorimotor

Sub- Stage Description

4. Coordination of reactions stage secondary Coordinates vision and touch – hand – eye
circulation coordination; goal directed.
( 8-12 months)

5. Tertiary circular reactions , novelty, and Purpose in exploration, start of curiosity,

curiosity. (12-18 months) interest in novelty.

Infants develop the ability to use primitive

6. Internalization of Schemes symbols and form enduring mental
(18-24 months) presentations.
Learning and Remembering
Do infants learn and remember?
Yes! Paslov’s classical conditioning and Skinner’s
operant conditioning have been proven to apply to
infants.
Language Language Acquisition
Development Device (LAD)
The process A “metaphorical” organ
through which that is responsible for
children acquire language learning.
the ability to
process speech
and communicate.
The End!