Question

What strategies and activities would Piaget and Vygotsky suggest are best for improving children's memory and problem-solving skills? Would they suggest the same techniques or different ones?

Answer 1

Piaget believed that the child’s development is guided by his own awareness and self-centered and focused activities help in the development.Piaget suggested following activities to improve the development of a child:

a) Giving toys and puzzles for the child to solve on his own

b) Encourage the child to spend time with self by letting him do things on his own

c) Activities involving self-discovery

d) Using visual aids and models

e) Activities to encourage self awareness like visualization and deep breathing

Vygotsky believed that the child’s development is led by social interaction. Vygotsky suggested following activities to improve the development of a child:

a) Playing with other children

b) Storytelling and asking questions

c) Giving a task to a child and helping him with it with instructions and support

d) Letting the child spend time with elders and children who are elder to the child

e) Letting the child experience various cultural activities

They would suggest different techniques as they have different viewpoints regarding the child development. Some of the activities like storytelling or puzzles might be same but the way they would be carried out shall be different. Piaget’s techniques would be more focused on the child and Vygotsky’s techniques shall be more focused on the interaction of the child with others.