Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood

By Group Member #2

Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood

Cognitive development is how children think, explore, and reason.

“In this stage, children can perform concrete operations, and they can reason logically as long as they can apply their reasoning to specific or concrete examples.” (Santrock) Using and applying these skills will help children understand the world around them, work towards any goals and aid in responding to experiences occurring on a daily basis.

How to promote optimal development in this domain

Having a less structured classroom and determining the course based on the student’s interests and participation during activities will help promote optimal cognitive development. “Turn the classroom into a setting of exploration and discovery.” (Santrock) Rather using workbooks and assignments, allowing children to discover and explore new interests will aid in cognitive stimulation and real world problems.

“Developmental changes result from the push toward logical consistency based on the equilibria of concrete and formal operations.” (Collins) In order to see changes in the child’s cognitive development, following Piaget’s stages of cognitive development, it must be consistent in allowing the concrete and formal operational stage of development. Thinking logically about objects as well as being able to reason and think in hypothetical terms will allow for optimal development in cognitive thinking.

How well does the S.P.A.R.K.S program support cognitive development?

The S.P.A.R.K.S program supports cognitive development by promoting science literacy through hands-on programs and providing enrichment in each area of science. The program continues to educate elementary age children about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) by providing resources for schools and beyond the classroom.

The program offers classroom visits and school assemblies which guide students through the scientific method with one to two experiments. Turning the classroom into a lab where the children wear lab coats, safety goggles and gloves, the sessions present science as a hands-on experience most students have not seen before. When engaging the students in hands-on activities it will boost their interest and knowledge in science supporting this domain.

How can the S.P.A.R.K.S program improve itself to support this domain?

“Nutrition education is a vital part of a comprehensive health education program and empowers children with knowledge and skills to make healthy food and beverage choices.”

(CDC) Incorporating nutrition education in the S.P.A.R.K.S program can look like examining how plants grow, engaging in hands-on learning farm-to-school activities, and examining nutrition labels. Increasing students’ nutrition knowledge as well as practicing healthy eating can also aid in optimal cognitive development. “Nutrients provide building blocks that play a critical role in cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, neurotransmitter and hormone metabolism, and are important constituents of enzyme systems in the brain.” (Nyaradi et. al) Bringing nutrition education into this hand-on program either during class visitations or school assemblies is a step closer towards supporting cognitive development.

Citations

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, February 15). Nutrition education in US schools. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/nutrition/school_nutrition_education.htm.

Collins, W. A. (1984). Chapter 3 Cognitive Development in School-Age Children: Conclusions And New Directions. In Development during middle childhood: The years from six to twelve. National Academy Press.

Nyaradi, A., Li, J., Hickling, S., Foster, J., & Oddy, W. H. (2013). The role of nutrition in children's neurocognitive development, from pregnancy through childhood. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 7, 97. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00097

Santrock, John W. Children. Available from: Yuzu, (15th Edition). McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US), 2021.