The third edition of this essential book presents a comprehensive and accessible overview of contemporary theory and research about young childrens developing thinking and understanding. Sue Robsons detailed exploration of the ideas and theories is enlivened by transcripts of childrens activities and conversations taken from practice and contemporary research, helping readers to make links between theory, research and practice. This new edition brings together up-to-date research into neuroscience and digital learning, combining theory with discussions for best practice. Each chapter also includes ideas for further reading and suggested activities.
Key chapters explore the following:
Theories of cognitive development
The social, emotional and cultural contexts of childrens thinking
Developments in brain science and young children
The central roles of play and language in young childrens developing thinking
Childrens conceptual development; visual thinking and thinking in music
This book is crucial reading for all those interested in how young children develop through their thoughts and actions, including students of Early Years studies, teachers and early years practitioners.
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ix | |
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x | |
| Preface and acknowledgements |
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xiii | |
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1 How can we think about young children's thinking? |
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1 | (18) |
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2 Theories of cognitive development: learning to think and thinking to learn |
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19 | (31) |
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3 The social, cultural and emotional contexts of thinking and understanding |
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50 | (28) |
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4 The brain and the body: neuroscience and embodied cognition |
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78 | (19) |
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5 Knowing about the mind: executive function, theory of mind, self-regulation and metacognition |
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97 | (30) |
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6 Observing, describing and documenting children's thinking and understanding |
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127 | (21) |
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7 Language, communication and thought |
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148 | (28) |
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8 Knowing about the world: the development of children's concepts |
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176 | (27) |
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9 Young children's visual thinking |
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203 | (12) |
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10 Young children's thinking in music |
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215 | (8) |
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11 Approaches to developing young children's thinking and understanding |
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223 | (37) |
| Bibliography |
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260 | (44) |
| Index |
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304 | |
Sue Robson is Honorary Research Fellow in the Early Childhood Research Centre, Froebel College, at the University of Roehampton. Sue taught in early years and primary settings before moving into higher education, where she was Principal Lecturer and Subject Leader for Early Childhood Studies at the University of Roehampton. Her research interests include cognition in early childhood, in particular self-regulation and metacognition (the subject of her doctoral studies), young childrens creative thinking, well-being and early childhood practitioner development. She is particularly interested in working with young children as participants in research, using a range of research methods to elicit their perspectives. Sue is a National Teaching Fellow and a Trustee and Member of Council of the Froebel Trust. Sue has written and presented widely.
