The study of cognitive development contributes to a better understanding of human development and the human mind, including our knowledge, abilities, skills, limitations, and how we manage to negotiate our way through a very complex world. It also matters because it has implications for improving children's lives. By understanding how children learn, how their brains develop, and how their age or development influences cognitive development, educators and policy makers can create educational programs designed to optimize children's development.
This understanding benefits not only typically developing children, but also children at risk for poorer developmental outcomes, as well as gifted children who may need accelerated educational programs. As we will explore, many educational intervention programs have been developed for children who may have developmental disabilities such as autism or who were raised in impoverished environments. Children who fall on the autism spectrum, for example, may have difficulty socially interacting and communicating with others (Jones, Gliga, Bedford, Charman, & Johnson, 2013).This can affect their ability to learn from teachers, parents, and others. Interventions that aim to enhance such children's social–cognitive skills are effective in improving their development, particularly if the intervention is started early.
This connection between basic and applied research goes two ways. Not only can the study of cognitive development assist children with special needs, but the study of children with developmental disabilities contributes to a richer understanding of cognitive development (Filippi & Karmiloff-Smith, 2013). For example, it can lead to the identification of different pathways of cognitive development. Thus, our understanding of children's cognitive development, from both basic and applied perspectives, can enhance children's growth and well-being.
Origins of the Study of Cognitive Development
Since we just learned that understanding cognitive development has so many benefits, you might be surprised to learn that it is a relatively new science. Cognitive development is a central component of developmental psychology. Developmental psychology both describes and explains change across the life span involving all aspects of human thought and behavior. Psychological development includes social development, emotional development, physical development, brain development, and cognitive development.