Fostering and Enhancing Cognitive development in relation to Piaget Theory?

Question

I have an assignment which has a question on how to guide staff in childcare to foster and enhance cognitive development in young children (in particular preschool age.) I need to link suggestions to Piagets theory. If anyone has information, or knows of links that would be great, thanks.

Answer 1

I am very excited about Piaget and think that he gets criticism that is sometimes too much.  I think that any scheme has its "limitations" but Piaget did so much for cognitive development that one would have to consider him to be the "godfather" of cognitive schemes.  Look at a book that I had for my introduction to Piaget that I still own. "Piaget's Theory of Cognitive and Affective Development" by Barry J. Wadsworth.  You can go the NAEYC website that has countless references about what it is you exactly are mentioning.  I just read (a month ago) some mentoring projects with the Piaget framework  as a base at the NAEYC site.  I have many ideas about what I would do but with very little effort you will discover some great ideas that are personal to you.  I will offer that the ages you mentioned are in the tale end of the sensori-motor stage and the heart of the preoperational stage.  This time is of the self (egocentricism) the key component for you to consider is that in this stage is one of the self.  Children in this stage usually have trouble seeing others points of view (thus the label exocentricism) If you find this book you will read actual observations and conclusions that Piaget formed.  

I hope that this is a help. Go to NAEYC and you will find everything you could imagine.  Good luck to you with your teaching!!!