Optimizing Children's Cognitive Development Essay Example

Optimizing children's cognitive development during early life stages and early education should be the ultimate goal for teachers, parents and other individuals since these children are the world's future. There's many various ways to optimize a child's cognitive development both in a classroom setting and a home setting. These methods of teaching include scaffolding, avoiding gender stereotypes, and allowing for extra help of children who are of low income with additional after school programs or educational assistance. These methods not only involve teachers but can also be assisted at home with parents. With the help of these different methods we as a society will better our learning experience for the younger generation but also allow for the most cognitive growth. 

To begin with, to best optimize a child’s cognitive development educational workers and parents must prioritize scaffolding. Scaffolding as stated in chapter 7 is “ A sensitive process providing the support that helps the child learn what is just out of reach of his abilities” ( Levine, Munsch, 224). This is essential because it allows the child to progress and allows them to be able to reach their full potential. Repeating materials that the child has already mastered doesn't not allow them to progress since they are no longer being challenged. Teachers and parents should work with the child and challenge them with new material so it can help them excel and progress in their education.

Next, another way to optimize a child’s cognitive development is avoiding gender stereotypes. This means allowing the child to read books that interest them so both genders are able to excel equally, not just one specific gender in a specific area of school. Allowing girls to explore STEM fields, or even allowing boys to pick their own book out will help them progress in school since they aren't being discouraged and are interested in the material. The last thing parents and educational workers should do is discourage a child. Allow the child to explore what interests them and don't put information in their head that they aren't able to do something based on their gender. Parents and teachers should support the child in their interests and create a positive academic mindset for the child. As stated in chapter 8, when students were given a test in mathematics its said that, “ women who were told that there were no gender differences for this test did better than men and better than women who heard instructions emphasizing that they were taking a test of mathematics ability, activating a stereotype threat for this group” (Good, Aronson, & Harder, 267). This is an example of a specific gender feeling discouraged in an area of school due to the stereotypes that surround it. Allowing an equal opportunity for both genders will give them both opportunities to be able to explore subjects that interest them without the stereotypes that can discourage them to no longer want to explore that subject. Being supportive of the child's interest and ignoring gender stereotypes will help them be able to advance the most in their education. 

Lastly, being able to provide children of different ethnicities and low income backgrounds with after school programs or different educational assistance programs will help optimize their cognitive development. This is seen clearly in the Head Start program which is offered for low income families to allow their child to get started with their education early on. As stated in chapter 8 that, “Children whose families have few economic resources show lower levels of cognitive development within the first 2 years of life” (Levine, Munsch, 271). Allowing access to additional educational assistance could mean everything for the future of these children. Their education should never depend on their economic status and should be able to have an equal chance with their education as of children who have a higher economic status. Having more educational opportunities for these children will help increase their cognitive development so they aren't behind by the time they join elementary school. Not only that but Head Start is an amazing program to refer to. Many families are able to use this resource to better help their child's education with this program and spending lots of money on the education of children is significantly more beneficial in the long run than the money that was spent. 

These are just a few of the many ways our society is able to better help optimize children's cognitive development. These examples all allow children to have an equal chance with their education.