Child Development and Learning Flashcards
6 cards from real PGCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Child Development and Learning flashcards as text
According to Piaget's theory, what characterises the 'formal operational' stage of cognitive development?
Answer: Adolescents can reason abstractly, think hypothetically and use systematic logic
The formal operational stage (from approximately 11 years) involves the ability to think abstractly, reason hypothetically and solve complex logical problems - important for secondary school learning.
What is 'attachment theory' (Bowlby) and why is it relevant to classroom practice?
Answer: The theory that early secure attachments with caregivers form a foundation for emotional regulation, trust and learning
Bowlby's attachment theory shows that secure early relationships are foundational for children's emotional development; children with insecure attachment may struggle with trust, regulation and learning in school.
What does 'executive function' refer to in child development, and why does it matter for school readiness?
Answer: A set of cognitive skills including working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control that underpin learning and self-regulation
Executive function skills - particularly working memory, attention control and cognitive flexibility - are strong predictors of school readiness, academic achievement and behaviour.
What is Erikson's stage of 'identity vs role confusion' and at what developmental stage does it occur?
Answer: Adolescence (approximately 12-18 years), when young people explore identity, values and future direction
Erikson's fifth stage - identity vs role confusion - occurs during adolescence, when young people grapple with questions of who they are, their values, and their role in society.
What does 'brain plasticity' (neuroplasticity) mean and what are its implications for teaching?
Answer: The brain's ability to form new neural connections and reorganise itself throughout life in response to learning and experience
Neuroplasticity means the brain changes structurally in response to learning, supporting the view that intelligence and ability are malleable rather than fixed - underpinning growth mindset theory.
How does Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory inform understanding of children's development?
Answer: It shows that a child's development is shaped by multiple interacting systems: family, school, community and wider culture
Bronfenbrenner's ecological model shows that children develop within nested systems of influence - microsystem (family, school), mesosystem (links between them), exosystem (parents workplace), macrosystem (culture, law) - all of which interact.