Question

According to Vygotsky, what role does a child's culture play in determining what things that child will learn? provide three examples.

How would a first born child differ in cognitive development from a second born child? what are the cognitive benefits of an older sibling?

Answer 1

Cognition is the mental activity and behaviour that allow us to understand the world. It includes the function of learning, perception, memory and thinking. It is influenced by biological, environmental, experimental, social and motivational factors.

Vygotsky would say it plays a critical role, because the culture will determine what cognitive skills are valued. His theory is sociocultural based, that means it emphasises on the social and cultural impact on cognitive development of a child. He pointed out that the particularities of a given culture determine the nature and manner of functioning of the societal institution that influence how children think and learn.

For example: A father teaches a kid to fit the matching shapes in the chart like square on the square , etc. The father intentionally get engage in this task to make the child understand. Without his assistance, the child will not be able to do it. Initially, the child doesn't know how to do it but once explained by the father, he/she understood.

b. Father reads a book about modes of transportation such as buses, trains , etc., Through this interaction, the child gets to know various the modes of transport used in the world.

c. Again taking transportation example. The child and the father is reading a book on transportation. This reading will change the way the child will perceive about the mode of transportation like buses, trains , etc., This way he will be able to demarcate between cars, buses, trucks , etc.

A number of theories are present to support this statement" first born child differ in cognitive development from a second born child". The main theories are:

1. New parents tends to spend more time with their first born child. As they are new to parenting so they want to be aware and cautious abut the development of the child. They want to become perfect parents as the parenting is new to them. so du to this the first born child shows more sociocultural development.

2. First borns tend to learn verbal skills a lot earlier than the second child due to more communication with the parents. The first ones take the interlocutor role wth the second born child. SO theri learning and language skills develop at an early stage than the second borns.

3. Due to the superior verbal skills, the first borns are more creative and use more complex thinking. And hence, all more successful.