Order Description
The importance of cognitive learning and brain development in children’s progression from lower order to higher order thinking skills
What to include in essay?
1. Introduction
2. Define cognitive development and learning for children birth-8 years
3. Discuss the key components and theories of cognition and brain development relevant to early childhood teaching and learning. Such as:
• Theories for example: Erikson, Piaget, Vygotsky etc.

4. Identify the role of taxonomies in recognising and understanding children’s profression from lower order (LOT) to higher order thinking (HOT) skills. Such as:
• Role of taxonomies- refer to Bloom- LOT and HOT

5. Discuss a range of inter-related factors that impact cognitive development in young children. Such as:
• Factors affecting cognitive development: environment, critical periods+ sensitive periods, in utero development (prenatal development)

6. Describe the importance of strong relational pedagogy in children’s brain development and cognitive learning. Such as:
• Strong relational pedagogy:
? Imp of relationships (experience expectant and experience dependent), attachment, erikson, eylf