I studied education and learned about child development. I believe it is important to know how children learn for parents. Jean Piaget came up with different stages of development. Children learn by actively constructing knowledge and going through four distinct stages of cognitive development.
The first stage is sensorimotor stage, and this takes place from birth to age 2. Preoperational stage is age 2-7 years, concrete operational from age 7-11 years, and formal operational takes place from 12 plus years of age. Piaget said that children think differently than adults, moving from reflexes to abstract reasoning. This change from reflexes to abstract reasoning occurs through processes of assimilation and accommodation.
During the sensorimotor stage infants learn through sensory experiences and motor movements cush as touching, looking, and listening. The preoperational stage children develop symbolic thought, language, and imagination, but thinking remains egocentric and intuitive rather than logical.
The concrete operational stage which occurs at 7-11 years of age is when logical thought develops. Children understand concepts like conservation btu, struggle with abstract concepts. An example of this is volume remains the same regardless of container shape.
The implications and importance of this are children learn best through exploration, not passive instruction. Teaching should be tailored to the child’s cognitive stage they at currently. It is important to that using props and visual aids is essential for younger learners.
It has also been found that overuse of technology in young children can impair attention, the ability to emotionally regulate and forming social skills. I think it is important to know this for parents and limit the use of technology by your children.
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