Question 1

Reggio Emilia programs emphasize formal classroom instruction by the teacher.

Accepted Answer

Reggio Emilia programs emphasize collaboration between teachers and children, and a child-centered approach where the child's interests and curiosities guide the learning process. The role of the teacher is to observe and facilitate learning, rather than simply instructing the class.

Question 2

One of the milestones of preoperational thought is the ability to _____.
A) use symbolic thought
B) understand reversibility
C) display conservation
D) think logically

Accepted Answer

The ability to use symbolic thought, such as pretending, imagining, and using words and numbers to represent objects and ideas, is a key milestone in preoperational thought. The other options - understanding reversibility, displaying conservation, and thinking logically - are all important cognitive skills that develop later in childhood.

Question 3

Teacher-directed preschool programs are similar in nature to the Reggio Emilia approach.

Accepted Answer

Teacher-directed preschool programs are characterized by a structured curriculum where the teacher is the main authority figure, while the Reggio Emilia approach emphasizes child-led learning and the active participation of children in their own learning process. The two approaches have different ideologies and practices.

Question 4

The best time to learn a second language is in early childhood.

Accepted Answer

Research shows that children's brains are more receptive to language acquisition and can easily pick up the sounds, grammar, and vocabulary of a second language during early childhood. Additionally, learning a second language during this period has been linked to cognitive benefits such as better problem-solving skills, improved creativity, and even higher academic achievement in other subjects.

Question 5

To focus on one aspect of a situation and simultaneously exclude all other aspects is called "_____."
A) magical thinking
B) static reasoning
C) centration
D) animism

Accepted Answer

Centration is the tendency to focus on one aspect of a situation and exclude all other aspects. This is a common cognitive limitation in young children but can also be observed in adults in certain situations. Magical thinking refers to believing in supernatural causality, static reasoning is a failure to understand transformations, and animism is attributing human characteristics to inanimate objects or natural phenomena.

Question 6

Ivan was playing under the kitchen table when he stood up suddenly and bumped his head. He pointed at the table and sternly said, "Mean table!" Ivan is demonstrating Piaget's concept of " _____."
A) egocentrism
B) operational thinking
C) centration
D) animism

Accepted Answer

Animism is the attribution of lifelike qualities to inanimate objects. Ivan is personifying the table by calling it "mean." This is typical of the preoperational stage of cognitive development in which children have not yet developed a concrete understanding of object permanence and may attribute human-like qualities to non-living things. Egocentrism refers to the tendency for young children to see things only from their own perspective, operational thinking involves logical, organized thinking, and centration is the tendency to focus on only one aspect of a situation while ignoring others. None of these concepts fully capture Ivan's behavior.

Question 7

Preoperational intelligence ____
A) allows children to think in symbols.
B) includes logical reasoning.
C) is characterized by reversibility of thought.
D) relies primarily on children's motor skills and senses.

Accepted Answer

Preoperational intelligence, as described by Jean Piaget, is focused on the development of symbolic thought. This allows children to use words, gestures, and other symbols to represent objects and ideas. Logical reasoning and reversibility of thought do not typically develop until the concrete operational stage, which follows preoperational intelligence. Motor skills and senses are important in early childhood development, but they are not the primary focus of preoperational intelligence.

Question 8

If a child's home environment is poor, early education programs won't be beneficial.

Accepted Answer

Although a poor home environment can present challenges for a child's development, early education programs can still provide benefits such as socialization, exposure to new experiences and learning opportunities, and access to supportive adults. However, it is important to note that the impact of such programs may be limited if the child's home environment continues to be highly stressful or unstable.

Question 9

Child-centered programs stress children's development and growth.

Accepted Answer

Child-centered programs are designed to focus on the individual developmental needs and growth of each child.

Question 10

A language shift occurs when children become as fluent in their new language as they are in their home language.

Accepted Answer

Language shift refers to the process by which a speech community in a contact situation (usually immigrant families) gradually stops using their original language in favor of a new one. It is not merely about achieving fluency in both languages but rather the gradual replacement of one language by another in the community or individual's repertoire.

Question 11

Piaget believed that until about age 6, it is difficult for children to think _____.
A) subjectively
B) egocentrically
C) logically
D) about animism

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that until about age 6, children are in the preoperational stage, during which they lack the ability to think logically. They rely on intuition and perception to make sense of the world around them, which often leads to egocentric thinking. However, thinking subjectively and about animism are not specific to this developmental stage.

Question 12

The most significant, long-term gains from intensive early-intervention programs were seen in boys from high-poverty neighborhoods in a Chicago preschool program.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The study, known as the Chicago Child-Parent Center program, found that boys from high-poverty neighborhoods who participated in the intensive early-intervention program had significant, long-term gains in educational achievement, employment, and reduction in criminal activity.

Question 13

Piaget referred to the early childhood (ages 2 to 6) stage of cognitive development as "_____ intelligence."
A) operational
B) egocentric
C) preoperational
D) sensorimotor

Accepted Answer

Piaget referred to the early childhood (ages 2 to 6) stage of cognitive development as "preoperational intelligence." This stage is characterized by the development of symbolic thought, egocentrism, and animism. Children at this stage have difficulty understanding the perspectives of others and tend to focus on their own point of view. They also struggle with conservation (understanding that an object's properties remain the same even if its appearance changes).

Question 14

A magician's goal is to get the audience to focus on one aspect of his demonstration while he manipulates another. This is easy to do with preoperational children, as they are fooled by their tendency to _____.
A) be logical thinkers
B) reverse things in their minds
C) demonstrate centration
D) equilibrate

Accepted Answer

Preoperational children demonstrate centration, which means they focus on one aspect of a situation while neglecting others. This makes them easier to fool with magician's tricks.

Question 15

Nine-year-old Bobby has no problem understanding that the 20-year-old woman who sometimes stays with him is both a student and a babysitter. According to Piaget, this is because Bobby's thinking has moved beyond _____.
A) conservation
B) object permanence
C) overregularization
D) centration

Accepted Answer

Bobby's ability to understand that the woman can be both a student and a babysitter indicates that his thinking has moved beyond centration, which is the focus on one aspect of a situation to the exclusion of others. This is a characteristic of Piaget's preoperational stage, and moving beyond it is a sign of developing more advanced cognitive abilities.

Question 16

It is always better for a young child to attend preschool than to be home with a parent.

Accepted Answer

The decision between preschool and staying home with a parent depends on individual family situations, child's needs, and the quality of the preschool. Each option has its own set of benefits and drawbacks, and what is better varies greatly from one child to another.

Question 17

Piaget called the stage of cognitive development between the ages of 2 and 6 "preoperational intelligence" because children do not yet _____.
A) demonstrate intellectual behavior
B) use logical operations
C) understand language
D) produce language

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget, during the preoperational stage of cognitive development, children do not yet use logical operations. They may also struggle with understanding cause and effect and struggle with perspective-taking.

Question 18

Studies suggest that preschool intervention, such as that provided by Head Start, advances the social and academic development of disadvantaged children.

Accepted Answer

Studies have consistently shown that preschool intervention programs, such as Head Start, have positive effects on the social and academic development of disadvantaged children. These programs have been found to improve school readiness, increase high school graduation rates, and reduce future delinquency and substance abuse. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 19

Montessori schools focus on using materials and projects in such a way that children have a strong sense of accomplishment.

Accepted Answer

Montessori schools are designed to provide hands-on learning experiences to children in order to promote self-directed learning and a sense of accomplishment. The materials and projects used in these schools are carefully selected to challenge the children's abilities and encourage them to explore and discover new concepts on their own. This approach is based on the belief that children learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process and have a sense of ownership over their own education.

Question 20

Overregularization actually signifies grammatical knowledge, not the lack of it.

Accepted Answer

Overregularization happens when a child learns a grammar rule and mistakenly applies it to irregular words (e.g. saying "runned" instead of "ran"). This shows that the child has internalized the grammar rule and is applying it consistently, indicating a developing grammatical knowledge.

Quiz 9: Early Childhood: Cognitive Development

Reggio Emilia programs emphasize formal classroom instruction by the teacher.

One of the milestones of preoperational thought is the ability to _____.

Teacher-directed preschool programs are similar in nature to the Reggio Emilia approach.

The best time to learn a second language is in early childhood.

To focus on one aspect of a situation and simultaneously exclude all other aspects is called "_____."

Ivan was playing under the kitchen table when he stood up suddenly and bumped his head. He pointed at the table and sternly said, "Mean table!" Ivan is demonstrating Piaget's concept of " _____."

Preoperational intelligence ____

If a child's home environment is poor, early education programs won't be beneficial.

Child-centered programs stress children's development and growth.

A language shift occurs when children become as fluent in their new language as they are in their home language.

Piaget believed that until about age 6, it is difficult for children to think _____.

The most significant, long-term gains from intensive early-intervention programs were seen in boys from high-poverty neighborhoods in a Chicago preschool program.

Piaget referred to the early childhood (ages 2 to 6) stage of cognitive development as "_____ intelligence."

A magician's goal is to get the audience to focus on one aspect of his demonstration while he manipulates another. This is easy to do with preoperational children, as they are fooled by their tendency to _____.

Nine-year-old Bobby has no problem understanding that the 20-year-old woman who sometimes stays with him is both a student and a babysitter. According to Piaget, this is because Bobby's thinking has moved beyond _____.

It is always better for a young child to attend preschool than to be home with a parent.

Piaget called the stage of cognitive development between the ages of 2 and 6 "preoperational intelligence" because children do not yet _____.

Studies suggest that preschool intervention, such as that provided by Head Start, advances the social and academic development of disadvantaged children.

Montessori schools focus on using materials and projects in such a way that children have a strong sense of accomplishment.

Overregularization actually signifies grammatical knowledge, not the lack of it.