Concept formation in children

Meaning of concept formation

Type or level of cognitive process which is

characterised by thinking of qualities, aspects and relations of objects at which there after comparison, generalization, abstraction and reasoning become possible Eg- Home -

His Home Friends home

Birds nest Lions den

Rats hole
Tries to find out similarities and contrasts between various alike and differing situations

 Thus a concept is an abstract grouping

of experiences that helps to reduce their complexity

Can be

classified as concepts of

science, maths, nature Concept formation is directly related to personal experiences One necessary condition is that the person must have a series of experiences both positive and negative that are in one or more respects similar

Steps in concept formation

Level 1 Matching

Level 2 Identification
Level 3 Naming

Level 4 Seriation
Level 5 - Classification

Concepts in early childhood

Concept of space Concept of shape Concept of relative size Concept of numbers Understanding classification

Concept of self
Number concept Representation

Time concept
Sequencing

Concepts
SPACE: Judging space is a difficult task for

preschoolers. Through play the child learns to judge short distances more accurately. Concept of shape: By 2 years children can insert various shapes in the form of boards By 3 can match objects on the basis of shapes. Concept of relative size: Between the ages of 3-4 the child can select the largest and the smallest objects from a group of objects. He is able to select middle sized ones only when he is 5yrs old.

Numbers
Children can use words related to number even

after they can speak. This is merely parrot speech. Children can rather recite the numbers because of practice. Without understanding the value of numbers. Development of no concept is a function of age, education and development.

Numbers
BY 2 years children understand one and many. By 3 can count and understand the number value

of 2 objects By 4 yrs can count 3 objects By 4 yrs can count 3 objects. By 5 years they can count and understand the value of 13 objects By the time they are 6 they understand 100.

Classification
Piaget conducted an experiment wherein he gave

children rectangles, squares and arcs in three colours red, blue & yellow Children are asked to classify or put things that go together. 2-3 yrs olds generally made a design 4 year olds showed more systematic sorting and grouping of objects i.e. they created a class of rectangles or squares or all blue coloured ones together keeping in mind only one dimension. By 6 they decide upon the criteria and are able to classify. This becomes highly developed in the concrete operational period.

Self concept
Based on what the others think of them

Is developing and growing

Role of the teacher Representation Children try to reproduce things that they see in

their environment by observing, exploring and experimenting through their senses. E.g. all forms of art activities, role play, dramatization etc are representation of things that they see around them.