9.1: Introduction
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Introduction to Theories of Cognitive Development
The first three years of a child’s life are full of many first-time experiences, from the sensory experiences in early infancy to the various new experiences motor and language abilities afford. Just think about the difference in experience of an infant not yet mobile and an infant who is able to walk around independently! Every experience, whether novel or repeated, supports their emerging cognition. Cognition refers to thinking and memory processes, and cognitive development refers to changes in these processes over time. This section will introduce you to the major theories of cognitive development, with special attention to the theories of Jean Piaget and Lev Vyotsky. [1]
[1] Kelvin Seifert & Rosemary Sutton (2009). “Educational Psychology.” CC by 4.0