How to Recognize a Child's Developmental Stage

A child̵7;s growth and development can be both a miracle and, at times, a mystery. However, in the early 1920s, Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget studied the cognitive development of children and teens extensively, creating a four-stage outline of normal intellectual development in children from birth to adulthood. Piaget noticed that children follow this sequence in order, and each stage signals not only new intellectual development, but an increasingly complex level of understanding as well. Knowing these stages -- and where your child fits in -- can help parents solve a bit of the mystery that comes with raising a child.

Instructions

  1. Instructions

    • 1

      Read about Piaget̵7;s four stages of development: the sensorimotor stage (birth to age 2) is when infants learn object permanence, begin goal-oriented behavior and use movement plus the beginnings of speech to explore their world. Next, the preoperational stage (2 years to 7 years) is a time of communication, imagination and use of symbols such as letters. Stage three is the concrete operational stage (ages 7 to 11), in which children̵7;s thoughts are less egocentric than before but remain concrete and logical. The final stage, the formal operational stage (ages 11 and up), includes the ability to think in more abstract ways and to formulate hypotheses and test them in a step-by-step manner.

    • 2

      Decide your child̵7;s current stage based on his age first, but realize the ages listed for each stage might vary slightly as each child is different in his exact development. Also, your child might show some inconsistent signs of entering his next stage before reaching that age level but isn̵7;t considered officially in that stage until he does so regularly.

    • 3

      Research online for simple experiments you can carry out to gauge your child's development. Keep the experience easy and fun, and don̵7;t worry if he does not ̶0;pass̶1; the test right away as each child develops at his own pace. For example, to test for Stage 3, have your child fill two cups equally with water and then have him pour one cup into a pitcher. Ask him if the amount of water has increased or not now that it is in a larger container. His realization that the amount is still the same as what is in the other cup signals the concrete operational process of conservation.

    • 4

      Learn about other developmental theories, which focus on problem solving, internalization of knowledge and information processing. Theorists such as Lev Vygotsky focus on a child̵7;s social development while B.F. Skinner's theories center around observable behaviors. Use information from each theorist to help you determine your child's level of development.

    • 5

      Write your observations in a journal which you can update periodically. As your child continues to grow, you will be able to track changes in his development and recognize when he is entering a new stage.

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