Piagets Six Stages of Child Development

Piaget’s Six Stages of Human Development : 

Piaget’s Six Stages of Human Development Dr. Lisa Rodriguez ECE601 Ashford University 2012

Infancy PeriodFrom birth to one year : 

Infancy PeriodFrom birth to one year The first three stages Reflex stage Organized percepts Sensorimotor or Practical Intelligence

Stage 1Reflex Stage : 

Stage 1Reflex Stage The Reflex stage is also known as the Hereditary Stage Instinct to eat (sucking reflex) First basic emotions Hereditary sensory and motor abilities Behaviors: Suckling Sucking thumb or fingers crying “The infant assimilates a part of his universe to his sucking to the degree that his initial behavior can be described by saying that for him the world is essentially a think to be sucked” (Piaget, 1967, p. 10, par. 1)

Stage 2Organization of Percepts : 

Stage 2Organization of Percepts Development of new motor systems that have become habits First differentiated emotions Organization of perceptions into patterns Behaviors: Systematic finger sucking Turning head in direction of movement or sound Smiling Recognizing people

Slide 5: 

On the next slide is a month from my son’s first year calendar. I put milestone stickers and wrote things he did on it, and you can see some of the characteristics described by Piaget illustrated in it.

Stage 3Sensorimotor or Practical Intelligence : 

Stage 3Sensorimotor or Practical Intelligence Intelligence appears before language in the form of manipulation of objects. The infant can now notice the result of his or her own actions, leading to variance of behavior depending on need (Development of causality) Behaviors: Grabbing objects Throwing objects Shaking or manipulating objects in other ways

Stage 4Intuitive IntelligenceFrom 2 to 7 years of age(Early Childhood) : 

Stage 4Intuitive IntelligenceFrom 2 to 7 years of age(Early Childhood) Spontaneous interpersonal feelings Social relationships Appearance of language Intuition – Voicing opinions without need of proof to support them. Development of moral percepts like obedience, honesty, fairness, etc. Behaviors: Speaking - imitation Verbal interactions with others Thought connected with verbal concepts Understanding of pictures Symbolic play Frequently asking “Why?”…trying to find the reason for everything Piaget, 1967, p. 25) Animism – Attributing human characteristics to objects or animals.

Slide 9: 

These are my boys inside a “nest” they built by tying a sheet to the underside of the top bunk bed. They were pretending to be baby birds.

Stage 5Concrete Intellectual OperationsFrom 7 to 12 years of age(The beginning of middle childhood) : 

Stage 5Concrete Intellectual OperationsFrom 7 to 12 years of age(The beginning of middle childhood) The beginning of logic Development of moral and social feelings Ability to cooperate The beginning of formal education Disappearance of egocentric language Behaviors: Turn-taking in conversations Collaborative and cooperative play and work Reflection (considering the effect of one’s actions) Development of the ability to understand mathematical, physical, and temporal concepts

Slide 11: 

The personality is formed Maturation of sexual instinct – leads to temporary disequilibrium (period of teenaged angst) Behaviors: Moodiness Construction of systems and theories. Concern with big issues…the environment, etc. and development of theories and philosophies designed to transform the world (Piaget, 1967). Stage 6Abstract Intellectual Operations Adolescence