Jean Piaget developed a theory that children’s thought processes differ from adults. He proved this theory through detailed observations of the development of infants and children. This theory differed from others because it proposed discrete stages of maturation. These stages that Piaget emphasizes demonstrates that there are major differences between the mind of a 3-year-old and of a 9-year-old.
According to Piaget’s theory, a 3-year-old is in the preoperational stage. This stage is filled with conjuring the ability to visualize objects and events mentally. For example, animism is developed. This is when a child believes that anything that moves is alive. This is why young children believe that stuffed animals and/or action figures have …show more content…
Imagination plays a big role in the cognitive development of a 3-year-old 's life. Another type of thinking that is developed is egocentrism, the child 's inability to see a situation from another person 's point of view. In this perspective, one literally thinks that others see, feel, hear, and experience the world in the exact same way. But, it is completely unselfish. For example, the 3-year-old shows his drawing to the class, but he faces the drawing so that only he can see it. He does this because he does not understand that the class cannot see his drawing. In the same way, children often play in the same room as other children but they play next to others rather than with them. Each child is absorbed in their own private world, thus being an example of egocentrism. In addition, centration evolves in children. This is when a child is only able to focus on one section of a problem. For example, the 3-year-old complains that there is no paint left in his cup, even though there is enough left for him to paint with. He is only focusing on how full the cup is and not if he has enough paint to finish his task. This causes children to often fail to understand that changing the way something looks does not change its
According to Piaget’s theory, a 3-year-old is in the preoperational stage. This stage is filled with conjuring the ability to visualize objects and events mentally. For example, animism is developed. This is when a child believes that anything that moves is alive. This is why young children believe that stuffed animals and/or action figures have …show more content…
Imagination plays a big role in the cognitive development of a 3-year-old 's life. Another type of thinking that is developed is egocentrism, the child 's inability to see a situation from another person 's point of view. In this perspective, one literally thinks that others see, feel, hear, and experience the world in the exact same way. But, it is completely unselfish. For example, the 3-year-old shows his drawing to the class, but he faces the drawing so that only he can see it. He does this because he does not understand that the class cannot see his drawing. In the same way, children often play in the same room as other children but they play next to others rather than with them. Each child is absorbed in their own private world, thus being an example of egocentrism. In addition, centration evolves in children. This is when a child is only able to focus on one section of a problem. For example, the 3-year-old complains that there is no paint left in his cup, even though there is enough left for him to paint with. He is only focusing on how full the cup is and not if he has enough paint to finish his task. This causes children to often fail to understand that changing the way something looks does not change its