In their golden age, children go through so many changes. It may be easier to monitor a child’s physical growth, but it is more challenging to track their mental development.
The intellectual development of early childhood is divided into several phases by the renowned psychologist, Piaget.
The following Thevolume.net summarizes the definitions and stages of children’s intellectual development that are important for parents to know, as reported by MomJunction:
What is a child’s intellectual development?
Children’s intellectual development is the stage where children learn and apply the experiences they have gained over time. With experience, time, memory, problem-solving skills, reasoning, and thinking abilities, children’s intellectuals continue to be honed and develop.
The cognitive skills and intellectual development of children are characterized by various activities and certain recognizable patterns. There are four different stages of a person’s intellectual development introduced by Piaget, namely the sensory-motor stage, the pre-operational period, the concrete operation period, and the formal operation period.
Sensory-motor stage
This is the period in which a child’s activities are observed to see the growth of his mental abilities.
The first two months are characterized by very basic motor movements, such as sucking and grasping. This stage is called the reflection stage.
The next two months are marked by repetitive movements called the primary circular reaction stage.
At the age of 4-8 months, children will repeat movements with consequences, such as touching a hanging toy above the crib to move it. This stage is called the secondary circular reaction stage.
At the age of one year, children’s movements become more complex and are called the secondary reaction coordination stage. Six months later, children find a new way to do the same activity, which is called a tertiary circular reaction.
At the age of 2 years, children begin to show signs of solving problems for simple activities mentally, before taking action. This is called the discovery of new ways through mental combinations.
Pre-operational period
This phase of early childhood intellectual development lasts from the age of 2 to 7 years. Here are some signs:
- Age 2-4 years: Children’s language skills are developing although not very logical. They can remember and talk about objects that are not currently visible. This is the pre-operational phase.
- Age 4-7 years: Children’s speech development makes more sense and children can recognize and use simple logic. Children can understand the game with simple rules. This phase is called the intuitive phase.
Concrete operation period
This stage of the intellectual development of children consists of mental development that occurs in children aged 7-12 years. At this stage the child can:
- Understand logical patterns and use them. His mental faculties are now moving towards a firm understanding, of what to do for what.
- Children can understand various categories and can solve problems logically and precisely.
Period of formal operation
This period is a period of development that lasts from the age of 12 years and over. This is the final stage of intellectual development, where the child can begin to understand and think about abstract concepts.
In this period of formal operation, children can use their logic and deductive reasoning. Complex logical and abstract sequences become easy for children to think about and apply in problem-solving.
Children’s mental and physical growth usually accelerates in the early years of life. But remember, Mom, every child is unique and different in their way. Let the child develop his skills and enjoy the stages of growth.
I hope this information is helpful.
