Piaget in the Toddler Classroom Essay Example
Piaget in the Toddler Classroom
Jessica Moshier
ECE332: Child Development
Dr. Jessica Alvarado
February 18, 2013
Piaget in the Toddler Classroom
There are a lot of things to consider when designing the layout of a toddler classroom. It is very important to create an environment that is geared toward the proper developmental stage in order for young children to get the most out their classroom. Children in the preoperational stage (2 yrs. – 7 yrs.) need a wide variety of hands-on activities to promote development. Using Jean Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive development to design a classroom will give toddlers a wide range of activities to gain a strong foundation for learning.
Jean Piaget was a Swiss biologist and psychologist whose theory of cognitive development states that children progress through four stages between particular sets of ages. The four stages are: Birth – two years - sensorimotor stage, two years to seven years – preoperational stage, seven years to eleven years – concrete operational stage, and eleven years to fifteen years – formal operational stage. This paper will address a classroom designed to benefit the development of toddlers who are in the preoperational stage (Lefrancois, 2012).
Children in the early preoperational stage are extremely egocentric; that is they are unable to think about things from any point of view but their own (McLeod, 2010). Toddlers believe that everyone else sees, feels, and thinks the exact same way as they do. Animism is a big part of the preoperational stage as well. This is where children believe inanimate objects have life like traits.
My classroom will promote growth and development so that young children can express themselves while learning about the world around them. There will be several centers where the children will be able to explore and learn through play both alone and in groups. I will provide quiet areas for activities such as napping
Jessica Moshier
ECE332: Child Development
Dr. Jessica Alvarado
February 18, 2013
Piaget in the Toddler Classroom
There are a lot of things to consider when designing the layout of a toddler classroom. It is very important to create an environment that is geared toward the proper developmental stage in order for young children to get the most out their classroom. Children in the preoperational stage (2 yrs. – 7 yrs.) need a wide variety of hands-on activities to promote development. Using Jean Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive development to design a classroom will give toddlers a wide range of activities to gain a strong foundation for learning.
Jean Piaget was a Swiss biologist and psychologist whose theory of cognitive development states that children progress through four stages between particular sets of ages. The four stages are: Birth – two years - sensorimotor stage, two years to seven years – preoperational stage, seven years to eleven years – concrete operational stage, and eleven years to fifteen years – formal operational stage. This paper will address a classroom designed to benefit the development of toddlers who are in the preoperational stage (Lefrancois, 2012).
Children in the early preoperational stage are extremely egocentric; that is they are unable to think about things from any point of view but their own (McLeod, 2010). Toddlers believe that everyone else sees, feels, and thinks the exact same way as they do. Animism is a big part of the preoperational stage as well. This is where children believe inanimate objects have life like traits.
My classroom will promote growth and development so that young children can express themselves while learning about the world around them. There will be several centers where the children will be able to explore and learn through play both alone and in groups. I will provide quiet areas for activities such as napping