Question

In what ways do children develop cognitively during the middle childhood years? Discuss incorporating the major theoretical approaches, specific to the middle childhood years ( Piaget, Information Processing and Vygotsky). Also describe how psychologists assess children for learning disabilities.

IN 350-400 WORDS

Answer 1

In what ways do children develop cognitively during the middle childhood years? Also describe how psychologists assess children for learning disabilities.

The ages that occur between 7-11 years, there is a Ample amount of cognitive development. This was identified by Piaget as the stage snaked as concrete operational stage. It is said, that during this period, children will be learn skills of will have intellectual development. Also, there is development of the concrete information as well as logic. Though, children are not as adapt in understanding the abstract concepts or hypothetical concepts. In this stage of development, children would be able to concentrate on different aspects of a situation. In this stage of development,, children tend to become less and less egocentric and start understanding the viewpoint of other people.

The concerted operational stage by Piaget explains that around this stage, children would start thinking in a logical manner about different events, but they would not be able to think properly about the abstract ideas or the concepts that are hypothetical. The information processing is such that inductive logic where they begin to arrive at a specific result, coming from a general experience. Deductive logic is difficult. They also learn the process of assimilation. This means that they understand that if the shape of a certain thing changes, it will still be the same thing. Their information processing occurs such that they are able to process the world fromthd perspective of different people and this perspective can be used by them in the decision making process.

The information processing theory is given by Vygotsky. These theories are developed on the theories of Piaget. Vygotsky’s developmental theory highlights the contributions of linguistic factors, social interactions and interpersonal relationships responsible in development of the child. According to Vygotsky, problem solving by smaller children is by talking out loud by learning a new mental task. By this time, children would be becoming more co,patent in carrying out mental operations where, talking out loud would help in internalisation of thoughts. During this stage, there is development of the zone of proximal development. Also, that cognitive tasks would be learnt by children as they interact with adults or peers. Younger children begin to imitate the older people and this also helps them in accomplishing their tasks. The zone of proximal development implies the amount of work that can be done by the child and the amount of work that they would do with the help of assistance.

Also, there is development of another concept known as scaffolding. This is the concept where, with time, the instructions given by adults to the children are less directive.