Parents Guide to Cognitive Development
Zone of Proximal Development
Zone of proximal development is a technique that was created by Lev Vygotsky to assess both the child's level of achievement and their readiness to learn. This is beneficial for parents because it allows us to understand what the child is capable of doing independently and what they can do with the guidance of a more skilled adult or peer. When the child does need help from others, this is referred to as the zone of proximal development. Children benefit from this zone because they receive the interaction that focuses on information that is beyond what they are yet capable of. Another technique that relates to this is scaffolding. This process provides the support that helps a child achieve what is out of reach. Once the child understands, scaffolding is no longer necessary.
An activity to better help parents understand this concept is teaching a child to tie their shoe. At first the child will need assistance from the parent. However, once the child becomes progressively more independent the child will no longer need help and will be able to tie their own shoe. With an infant, the parent will have to do the work of course. With a two year old, the parent can hold the child's hand and talk them through the process. With a preschooler, the parent might offer the "bunny ear" approach, explaining exactly how to tie the shoe. With a 6 or 7 year old you can teach the child how to wrap one string around and through the other. The amount of help the child receives from the parent supports the child's learning.
Reading and Writing
During early childhood, language is more developed in children. Children are in the preoperational stage of development between the ages of 2-6. Reading and writing becomes critical in school in this stage. Typically a child is entering preschool or kindergarten where they will begin to learn the alphabet and enhance their writing and reading techniques.
Activity for Parents and Children
For this activity, we will hand out writing and reading worksheets for the children and parents to work on together. During this activity, parents can see exactly where their child is in this stage of development. They will also discover what needs improving and what their child is doing well in. This creates a bonding experience for children and the parent. It creates an atmosphere where children can go to their parent if they need assistance with school work.
Discovery Learning Techniques
There are many different forms of play for children. It is necessary to inform parents of the pros and cons of the different types of play. Discovery learning is an approach that teachers or caregivers can use that emphasizes allowing the children to discover from themselves new information and understanding. There are different approaches that include participants being active or passive. For example, free play is the child is active and the caregiver is passive. Scaffolded guided play is both the child and the caregiver are active. Maturation rest both the child and caregiver are passive. Direct instruction based is the child is passive and the caregiver is active.
An activity that we have parents and children do together here deal with what play style benefits their child best. Parents and children use all four approaches of discovery play and see what fits their child uniquely. Parents enjoy this activity because it gives them a better understanding of how their child will do in peer settings such as preschool or early elementary school.
