PECT Child Development & Learning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to Piaget, a child in the preoperational stage (ages 2-7) typically struggles with which concept?
- Conservation (Correct answer)
- Object permanence
- Symbolic thought
- Reflexive action
Correct answer: Conservation
Conservation, understanding that quantity stays the same despite changes in shape, is not yet mastered in the preoperational stage.
Question 2: Vygotsky's 'zone of proximal development' refers to the gap between what a child can do independently and what they can do:
- With guidance from a more skilled person (Correct answer)
- After reaching adulthood
- Without any instruction
- Only through reflexes
Correct answer: With guidance from a more skilled person
The ZPD is the range of tasks a learner can accomplish with support from a more knowledgeable other.
Question 3: A kindergarten teacher uses scaffolding when she:
- Provides temporary support and gradually removes it as the child gains skill (Correct answer)
- Gives the same worksheet to every student
- Lets children work entirely on their own
- Tests students before any teaching
Correct answer: Provides temporary support and gradually removes it as the child gains skill
Scaffolding gives just enough support, then fades it as competence increases.
Question 4: Erik Erikson's stage for early childhood (ages 3-5) centers on the conflict of:
- Initiative vs. guilt (Correct answer)
- Trust vs. mistrust
- Identity vs. role confusion
- Integrity vs. despair
Correct answer: Initiative vs. guilt
During the preschool years children develop initiative by planning and carrying out activities.
Question 5: Which is the best example of gross motor development in a 4-year-old?
- Hopping on one foot (Correct answer)
- Buttoning a shirt
- Stringing small beads
- Holding a pencil with a tripod grasp
Correct answer: Hopping on one foot
Hopping uses large muscle groups, which defines gross motor skills.
Question 6: A developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) approach requires teachers to plan based on:
- Each child's age, individual needs, and cultural context (Correct answer)
- Only the grade-level standards
- Standardized test scores alone
- The fastest learner in the class
Correct answer: Each child's age, individual needs, and cultural context
DAP integrates knowledge of child development, individual differences, and social/cultural context.
Question 7: Receptive language in young children refers to the ability to:
- Understand spoken or written language (Correct answer)
- Produce grammatically correct sentences
- Pronounce words clearly
- Write letters of the alphabet
Correct answer: Understand spoken or written language
Receptive language is comprehension, while expressive language is production.
PECT Child Development & Learning 2
According to Piaget, a child in the preoperational stage (ages 2-7) typically struggles with which concept?