What's My Child Thinking?

First I’d like to say that every child has his/her unique personality and getting to know their personal perspective is the beauty of parenthood.

However, the human mind process is shared by us all with some variations and we all go through stages of development as a whole. This article helps give you a closer more scientific look into the mind of a child and how it develops with age. Special scenarios and situations should be taken into account when considering the content of this article. Should you have a very special case, it's always best to consult multiple professional opinions before taking any serious action related to child's current and future life experience. Choices made today can impact a child for many years to come. Always take caution when making permanent decisions for your child and family.

As a child grows and matures, their cognitive abilities and thought processes significantly develop. The cognitive development theory of Piaget offers a helpful framework for comprehending how children think at various ages. The main elements of a child's thinking at various developmental stages are as follows:

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Hint: You may want to take some notes or bookmark this article for future reference. It's always a good idea to a have place to come back to for a refresher.

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Now back to the scientific stuff…

Stage 1 - (Sensorimotor, from birth to age two): Infants and toddlers in this stage primarily rely on their senses and motor skills to comprehend the world. Through grasping, mouthing, and shaking, they investigate objects. They initially do not understand that objects continue to exist even when they are hidden because they lack object permanence. However, as they advance, they gain an understanding of the permanence of objects and start making use of mental representations.

Stage 2 - Preoperational Stage (2 to 7 years old): During this stage, kids start to learn how to speak and start playing with symbols. Their egocentric way of thinking makes it difficult for them to see things from another person's point of view. They might also think animistically, giving inanimate objects human-like characteristics. They have a limited grasp of concrete logic, though. They might have trouble grasping concepts like how a substance's quantity remains constant despite changes in shape or appearance.

Stage 3 - Concrete Operational Stage (7 to 11 years old): Kids in this stage get better at solving problems logically and performing conservation tasks. They can comprehend numerical, dimensional, and volumetric concepts. They can also understand the concept of cause and effect and solve straightforward problems. However, they still struggle with abstract and speculative reasoning.

Stage 4 - Formal Operational Stage (11 years and older): Children in this stage learn how to reason abstractly and hypothetically. They are capable of applying logical reasoning and solving more difficult puzzles. They are able to take into account various viewpoints and consider possibilities that do not exist in the real world.

It's crucial to remember that while these stages offer a general framework, specific children may move through them at varying rates. Additionally, a child's thinking and cognitive development may be impacted by cultural and environmental factors.

This gives you a guide on what to expect as your child grows into these stages, which can possibly improve your communication with them while in them. I always say, when we comprehend the environment in which we exist, the outcomes or experiences typically become more pleasing or tolerable. My intent is for this to be the basis for good parenting. Even if you’re not a parent, it can help your connection with a child or children in your life.