Supporting Cognitive Development

Understanding cognitive development in Early Years

Cognitive development refers about learning and reasoning, including the development of memory, symbolic thought and problem-solving skills where children learn to learn and think about the world around them.

Cognitive Development in Infants and Toddlers

The cognitive development of children in the first years of life is detailed and complex. Infants and toddler’s brains are constantly changing, adding new knowledge and refining what is already known (Kaywork, 2020). Infants show their curiosity in early experiences to gain knowledge and develop their problem-solving skills. They begin their learning by exploring the world with their body such as mouthing, grasping and reaching (Kaywork, 2020).

According to (Garvis et al., 2019), When it comes to cognitive development, two theorist, Piaget and Vygotsky are popular. Piaget highlights that the biological changes are responsible for cognitive development where Vygotsky emphasized social interaction can transform a child’s thinking and problem- solving skills.

According to Piaget the Stages of cognitive development are:

Sensorimotor stage (birth to two years)

Preoperational (from age 2 to age 7)

Concrete (from age 7 to age 11)

Formal Operational (from age 11 through adulthood)

Learn more about sensorimotor stage

Learn more about Developmetal Milestones

Teaching Competencies and skills

1.As an Early childhood teacher, in order to support children cognitive development, educator must provide infants and toddlers in a comfortable position and observe them playing (Kaywork, 2020).

2. Toddlers like to do challenging activity but not impossible, so an educator can handle this situation by creating an environment where children feel the experiences is challenging but able to complete it. For example, matching and sorting games and puzzles (Kaywork, 2020).

3. Educator can provide manipulatives play which will help children to understand the use of tools for example, markers, paints, telephone and other household tools.

4. By keeping the routine and room arrangement predictable, educator can talk what children do and did during the day in order to memorize the concept of time.

5. Offering choices where it is possible.

Authentic Curriculum plan and examples

Mathematics and Numeracy

Approach: The use of counting, patterns, and shapes in everyday playful activities.

Example: Sorting games using colored blocks, sing simple songs of counting, or explore shapes through messy play.

Humanities and Social Sciences

Approach: Develop an understanding of the self and the world through stories and playing group games.

Example: Utilize family pictures to examine basic relationships or celebrate cultural differences through storytelling and dramatic play about food .

Integrated Curriculum STEAM

Teaching Approach: Infusing concepts of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math to develop curricular interdisciplinary learning experiences .

Example:Provide an infant/toddlers water play experience where they design small boats out of recycled materials test floating and sinking and decorate their product.

Art

Approach: Through free-play methods using a variety of materials to build sensory awareness, creativity.

Example: Finger paints, clay and other natural products are utilised for the exploration of texture, color pattern and development of fine motor prehension and imagination.

Drama and Puppets

Approach: Role-playing and storytelling help in developing social competence and also understand language.

Example: Using puppets, the interactive storytelling activity may prompt toddlers to identify objects, act out actions, or describe feelings using pretend play.

Movement and Music

Strategy: The physical development along with cognition will be improved with rhythm and coordination activities.

Example: During the music activity, enable the toddlers to wave scarves or ribbons while dancing to create the sense of spatial awareness and recognition of rhythm.

Language and Literacy

Approach: Increase vocabulary and print awareness by creating a print-rich environment.

Example: Read daily picture books, label items in the environment, and engage in songs and rhymes that create phonemic awareness.

Learning Experiences

1. For Birth to 12 months

Experiences: peek A Boo

This activity is usually applicable for the infants between 6 to 12 months. We can apply these experiences for infant during the time, when infants feel sad and upset. It can be applied both indoor and outdoor. This activity help infants to improve their memory, concentration and social skills.

2. For 12 to 24 months

Experiences: Water play exploration

Objective: In this activity, Educator can introduce them cause and effect relationship and sensory exploration.

This activity can be done after morning tea in a small group of children in outdoor environment.

Materials required: a shallow tub of water, cups, floating toys, sponges

Activity: Educator can demonstrate the children by sinking and floating toys in water observing their reaction. Children can squeeze and pour water. Educator can model and acknowledge children by using positive language such as, “the cup is full”, and “the swan is floating”.

This activity help children to understand cause and effect and sensory processing.

3. For 2 to 3 years old

Experiences: peg puzzle

The objective for this experience is to develop spatial reasoning and problem- solving skills to child of age 2-3 years old.

This activity can be done during free play time in indoor environment for an individual.

Materials required: peg puzzle

Activity: Educator can set up this activity in a table providing puzzle box to a child. When the child is engaging in puzzle, educator can provide guidance to child through questioning and discussion, such as “where does this piece go?” and “how about in this space?”.

This activity helps a child to develop spatial awareness, memory and hand – eye co-ordination.