Question

Imagine you are going to make cookies with the help of four children. Charlie is 2 years old, Penelope is 6, Isabelle is 9, and Brian is 11. 1. Based upon Piaget’s four stages of cognitive development, how will each child help you in making cookies? For instance, will one child be able to assist in pouring flour into a bowl, whereas another child will simply play with the flour? Your answer: 2. Identify the developmental stage of each child and describe how each child will assist in making cookies based upon their developmental stage. Your answer:

Answer 1

According to Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. There are four stages in the cognitive development of a child. These stages are sensorimotor stage, which include stage from birth to 2 years, preoperational stage which is up to 7 years; concrete operational stage which is up to 11 years and the last stage, formal operational stages which include development that takes place after the age of 11.

            Charlie is in the sensorimotor stage. This is the stage in which infants acquire knowledge through sensations and movements. They learn the world through looking, listening, grasping and sucking. While making cookies, the mother can make Charlie feel the texture of the flour and make him to pour the flour into another container. He can also add water and salt given by mother. They can even mix flour with water and salt, though not completely. In this way they get familiarized with different ingredients that is used to make cookies.

            Penelope is in the preoperational stage. In this stage the child will be skilled at pretend play. She will be able to identify the ingredients required to make cookies. Although she cannot determine the amount of each ingredient required, since she ise well versed in playing with clay, she can mix the dough thoroughly to the required consistency. She can even make small balls and shape them for cookies.

            Isabelle is in the concrete operational stage. At this stage the child develops logical thinking and reasoning. She may be able to take out the required quantity of ingredients for the people at home or for a particular number of cookies. Since they can understand the feelings of mother, they will be happy to help mother, by taking initiative in making cookies. She can also finalize the shape of cookies.

            Brian is in the last stage or formal operational stage. At this stage there will be logic thinking, deductive reasoning and understanding abstract ideas. He can supervise Isabelle to take the required quantity of ingredients, and Penelope mixing the ingredients. He can involve Charlie by asking him to pour the ingredients into the common bowl. He can also decide the shape of the cookies and give instructions of making the cookies more beautiful and tasty by using additional ingredients like oil, chocolate chips, essence etc. He can also adjust the temperature of the oven for making the cookies.

            Thus while making cookies by involving all the children, the mother can invariably contribute to their cognitive development. She has to understand each stage of development and give appropriate instructions with reasoning. Thus the children learn the materials around them and how to use those for their good.