According to Jean Piaget's cognitive development theory, which of the following is essential for cognitive development?

According to Jean Piaget's cognitive development theory, which of the following is essential for cognitive development? Correct Answer Active exploration of the surrounding.

Jean Piaget made a systematic study of cognitive development among children of different age groups and he categorized it into different developmental stages. These stages are-

• Sensory-motor stage (0 to 2 years)
• Pre-operational stage (2 to 6 years)
• Concrete operational stage (6 to 11 years)
• Formal Operational stage (11+ years to adolescence).

Key Points According to Jean Piaget:

• Children develop an understanding of interaction with the surrounding environment. Piaget identifies four factors namely biological maturation, active exploration, social experiences, and equilibration that interact to influence thinking.
• The information does not simply enter children's minds from the environment, it should ensure the learning of children.
• Hence by all these references, we can say that Active exploration of the surrounding is essential for cognitive development.​

Important Points

• Sensory-motor stage - This is a stage of the child from just after birth to two years. In this stage-
  • Senses are teachers.
  • Reflex action shows in children.
  • Intimate behavior by the child is shown.
• Pre-operational stage - This is a stage of the child from two years to 6 years. In this stage, there are many changes are shown in the child such as-
  • ​Language development starts.
  • Irreversibility in a child.
  • Egocentrism
  • Animism​

• Concrete operational stage- There are many changes found in the child during the concrete operation stage (6 to 11 years) such as:

  • Reversibility: Reversibility comes in a child, he/she can change their views by thinking diversely.
  • Logics mapping: Logical mapping begins in a child so they analyze the problem, then think critically about it then comes to conclusion.
• Formal Operational Stage- According to Jean Piaget, this is a stage for a child who belongs from the age group of 11 years till adolescence. Changes are as-
  • Hypothetical- deductive logic begins.
  • Divergent/Convergent thinking.
  • Creative thinking.

Additional Information

• According to Jean Piaget, Development in a child is only based on two factors, which are- 
  • ​Physical Environment.
  • Biological abilities.
• ​But in reference to Language development, he only recognizes cognition, According to him language is developed in a child only by his cognition, there is no interference from the environmental factor during language development.