Intellectual development of the child: types, methods and features

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Child development is an important stage in the formation of a self-sufficient personality. It is at an early age (before puberty) that basic life skills are formed, basic knowledge about the surrounding reality is laid, and new information is most quickly absorbed.

Intellectual development of the child: concept

Psychologists and teachers in the specialized literature are arguing about the essence of intellectual development. There is an opinion that this is a certain amount of skills and knowledge, or the ability to acquire this knowledge and skills, to find solutions in non-standard situations. In any case, the intellectual and cognitive development of a child cannot be unequivocally determined in advance: the pace can be accelerated, slowed down, partially or completely stopped at some stage (depending on the circumstances).

The multifaceted and complex process associated with the development of different aspects of personality is an important part of the overall development, preparation of the child for school and later life in general. The intellectual andthe physical development of the child as a result of the influence of the conditions and circumstances of the environment. The leading role in this process (especially with regard to children of preschool and primary school age) is given to systematic education.

Intellectual education of the child

Pedagogical influence on the younger generation with the aim of developing intelligence is called intellectual education. This is a systematic and purposeful process that involves mastering the socio-historical experience that has been accumulated by older generations, represented in skills and abilities, knowledge, norms and rules, and assessments.

The intellectual and creative development of children includes a whole system of various methods, means, and the creation of optimal conditions. Depending on the age, the child goes through several stages. For example, at the end of the first year of life, most babies are characterized by visual-active thinking, because they have not yet mastered active speech. At this age, the child becomes familiar with the environment through the tactile study of various objects.

Sequence of stages of development

Each previous stage of a child's development creates the foundation for the next. As you master new skills, the old ones are not forgotten and do not cease to be used. That is, if a child has already learned, for example, how to tie shoelaces on his own, then he cannot “forget” this action (except in cases of serious illnesses and injuries,affecting the functioning of the brain), and any refusals can be perceived by parents as whims.

Components of intellectual development

The intellectual and moral development of children is achieved by various pedagogical and educational methods. A significant role in this process is played by the family (the desire and ability of parents to take care of the child, a favorable atmosphere) and the school (training sessions, various activities, communication with peers and interaction in society).

Parents, educators and teachers, as well as all other persons involved in the process of learning and development, need to encourage the activity of the child, the desire to learn new things. Collaboration is very productive. You need to choose an interesting activity for both (both a child and an adult), an entertaining intellectual task and try to solve it.

An important aspect of the intellectual development of preschool and primary school children is creativity. But a prerequisite is that the child should enjoy the process of learning and creativity. If the tasks are done for the purpose of earning some kind of reward, for fear of being punished, or out of obedience, then this has nothing to do with the development of intellectual abilities.

Play is one of the most important activities for a child. It is during the game that one can instill interest in learning, creative and cognitive activities, and reveal artistic abilities. The game usually generatesthe ability to concentrate and be active for longer. Thematic games require imagination, observation and develop memory, while modeling and drawing are useful for developing fine motor skills and a sense of beauty.

Emotional development of a child under one and a half years old

The intellectual development of a child from birth to three years is based on the emotional perception of the world around. Information is acquired only through emotional images. This shapes the future behavior of the child. At this age, it is necessary to strive to maintain a friendly atmosphere in the family that positively affects the growing baby.

The jump in physical and mental development occurs at the age of 1, 5-2 years. At this time, the child learns to speak, learns the meaning of many words, and can communicate with others. The child can build pyramids and towers out of cubes, is good with a spoon and can independently drink from a mug, dress and undress, learn to tie shoelaces, fasten buttons and zippers. The character changes noticeably.

Logical model of information assimilation

From one and a half to five years, a new stage begins, the level of the child's intellectual development rises. Basic life skills are actively formed, the ability to assimilate musical tones, artistic images appears, logical thinking develops. Intellectual games, such as logical tasks, constructors and puzzles, strongly stimulate the development of the child. This age is great for mastering a variety of creative activities, active reading books and learning a foreign language.language. The child absorbs knowledge, strives to develop and quickly perceives new information.

Speech model of preschool child development

In the intellectual development of preschool children (4-5 years old), an important stage is the moment when the child begins to perceive and remember information spoken aloud. Practice proves that a preschooler can learn a foreign language much faster than an adult. Therefore, many parents make the most of this fruitful time to direct the energy of the baby in a useful direction.

Useful activities will be reading books, talking about the world around us (the “why” period is not over yet), memorizing short verses. Parents need to maintain constant contact with the child, find answers to all questions and select useful pastime options (preferably joint). Does not lose relevance and emotional support, praise for achievements.

Between three and six years, it is advisable to use puzzles, solve intellectual problems independently or together with the child. The intellectual development of a child is not limited to teaching specific skills (reading, writing, counting), because the modern generation needs to have a well-trained semantic memory, developed logical thinking and steady attention for successful study and later life. These are complex mental functions that need to be formed at the senior preschool age.

Problems of mental education of preschoolers

In the process of intellectual development of preschool children, several pedagogical tasks are achieved, among which should be listed:

• development of mental abilities;
• formation of a common understanding of the norms and rules governing social relations (interaction between children, children and adults);
• development of complex mental processes (speech, perception, thinking, sensations, memory, imagination);
• formation of ideas about the world around;
• development of practical skills;
• shaping various ways of mental activity;
• becoming competent, correct and structured speech;
• development of mental activity;
• shaping sensory perception.

Development patterns for preschool children

Features of the intellectual development of the child are individual, but many years of pedagogical experience of researchers (educators, teachers and psychologists) made it possible to identify the main models. There are emotional, verbal and logical models of development.

Children who develop predominantly in an emotional pattern are usually more receptive to criticism, need approval and support, and are successful in the humanities and creative activities. The logical model implies the ability to solve logical problems, determines the disposition to the exact sciences and susceptibility to musical works. The speech model of development determinesthe child's ability to memorize information well by ear. Such children love to read books and talk on given topics, do well in the humanities and learn foreign languages, memorize poetry.

In order to raise a developed personality, prepared for later life, it is important for parents to take an active part in the process of the child's intellectual development, without placing all responsibility on the educational (educational) institution, teachers and educators or other persons (grandparents). A necessary condition is a comprehensive impact on the consciousness of the younger generation, which can be carried out during the game, joint developmental activities or just productive communication.

Piaget's Theory of Intellectual Development

The Swiss philosopher and biologist believed that the thinking of an adult differs from the thinking of a child in greater logic, therefore it is the development of logical thinking that needs to be given considerable attention. Jean Piaget at different times identified various stages of intellectual development, but most often the classification included four successive stages: the sensorimotor stage, the preoperative stage, the stage of concrete operations and formal operations.

During the sensorimotor and preoperative stages, children's judgments are categorical, few, not connected by a logical chain. The central feature of the period is egocentrism, which should not be confused with selfishness. Already from the age of seven, the child begins to actively form conceptual thinking. Only toAt age twelve or a little older, the stage of formal operations begins, which is characterized by the ability to think combinatorially.

Children with intellectual disabilities

Corresponding to the medical term "mental retardation" in pedagogy is the concept of "intellectual deficiency". A special educational system has been created for children with intellectual disabilities, there are separate schools and orphanages, but in some cases today inclusive education is used (jointly with children without intellectual disabilities).

Typical manifestations of a reduced level of functioning of mental processes aimed at understanding the world around us and consistent development are shortcomings in mnemonic activity, a decrease in verbal and logical thinking, difficulties in understanding and perception, the predominance of visual-figurative thinking over abstract-logical, insufficient the amount of knowledge and the amount of ideas for a certain age.

Causes of insufficiency

Intellectual deficiency is the result of a combination of organic and social factors. In the first case, we are talking about the features of the functioning of individual brain structures caused by damage, trauma, congenital or acquired diseases. A group of secondary causes are special conditions for development (domestic violence, conflicts, neglect, parental alcoholism, neglect ofchild).

Educating a Special Child

The purposeful development of a child with an intellectual disability is more important than the education of his normally developing peer. This is due to the fact that children with disabilities have fewer opportunities to independently perceive, store and further use the information received. But to achieve success, not just any, but special organized training is important, which is aimed at forming positive personality traits, provides a range of necessary practical skills and basic knowledge necessary for existence in the modern world, and provides for the correction of existing shortcomings.