Several theories have come into play to study the development of children psychology and growth. Some of the theories that have been brought forward include Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and Vygotsky’s theory of sociocultural development and language development
Piaget’s Theory of Development
Piaget’s theory of development is associated with the growth of cognitive skills as well as the intelligence of children. This theory comprises of four stages. The first stage is the sensory-motor stage normally for children between 1 and 2 years. According to Piaget, children in this stage portray skills such as touching objects, sucking and even crying. The second stage is known as the preoperational stage whereby children think majorly of themselves rather other people and has the feeling that the whole world belongs to them. This stage covers children between the ages of two years and six years. The next stage is known as the concerted operation where children develop logical thinking and become problem solvers. Their minds develop to enable them to analyze situations critically. Finally, the fourth stage is called the formal preoperational stage. In this stage, the children develop a sense of maturity and can be able to welcome other people opinions. They can now get involved in decisions touching on politics among other national issues (Berk, 2017).
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Strengths of the Theory
Piaget’s theory has several strengths. Firstly, the theory has brought a big transformation in the study of the development of children psychology. This is because it has injected new ideas as well as concepts in the study of child psychology. Berk (2017) mentioned that the theory has promoted easy comprehension of the intellectual development of children. Piaget vividly explained the role of biological and environmental factors in the development of cognitive skills in children.
Weaknesses of the Theory
Piaget’s theory contains some weaknesses. The theory maintains that when children are born, they have no cognitive skills. Berk (2017) disputed the claim by stating that some children develop cognitive skills just a few months after they are born. In addition, the theory is insufficient by the fact that Piaget did not apply any scientific investigation to conclude his theories. Rather, he most likely came up with his findings just by observation and interviews. Finally, Berk (2017) mentioned that Piaget’s theory is weak as he places the development of children’s cognitive skills in distinct stages not considering the environmental factors at hand
Vygotsky’s Theory
Another theory applied in the study of sociocultural development and language development is Vygotsky’s theory. This theory outlines the concepts that children learn before they reach the school going age the relationship of what they will learn at school.
Strengths of the Theory
Vygotsky’s theory brings with it several strengths. To begin with, it enables teachers to achieve the goals set aside in teaching children by using his socio-cultural approach to his educational theory as well as technology frameworks. Kail and Cavanaugh (2018) reiterated that this approach promotes more ways of learning that are effectively promotes learning.
Weaknesses of the theory
Kail and Cavanaugh (2018) argued that theory is highly tutor-oriented and does not give room for other parties to contribute. In addition, the theory is rather school-centered in emphasizing the scientific concepts.
Elements of each Theory
Some elements are strong in each of the theories. For instance, Piaget’s theory gives a clear account of the stages of development of children cognitive skills. On the other hand, Vygotsky’s theory also elaborates clearly the different approaches to be used by teachers to use during the learning process of children (Berk, 2017).
Language development
Cognitive and sociocultural development support language in many ways. Children are able to develop skills how to think critically and live with other people well. Language development in children is highly influenced by the cognitive and socio-cultural surroundings (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2018). Interactions with adult persons, environmental apparatus highly influence language in a young person.
Caretakers and Language Acquisition
Caretakers should note the language development of children by assessing how the children interact with their peers and how they interact with them. The caretakers should therefore train and best practices that surround child development. They have a profound influence on the language development of the child.
References
Berk, L. (2017). Development through the lifespan . Pearson Education India.
Kail, R. V., & Cavanaugh, J. C. (2018). Human development: A life-span view . Cengage Learning.
