Cognitive Development Theory

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Health and well-being can be described as the achievement and maintenance of physical fitness and mental stability. Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Well being is defined as the quality of people’s life. (World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) 1948. Health and wellbeing is focusing on physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. Focusing on physical and cognitive development is physically healthy, healthy thinking like positive thinking. Focusing on social and emotional development is the quality of people’s life that influences by environment for example health status, education, socio-economic status and family background.

According to Piaget (1962) defined play as assimilation, or the children efforts to make environmental stimuli match his or her own concepts. Piaget theory holds that play, in and of itself, does not necessarily result in the formation of new cognitive structures. Piaget claimed that play was just for pleasure, and while it allowed children to practice things they had previously learned, it did not necessarily result in the learning of new things. In other words, play reflects what the children has already learned but does necessarily teach the children anything new. In this view, play is seen as a "process reflective of emerging symbolic development, but contributing little to it". Children have an inner drive to build an understanding of their world as they explore and interact with materials. A concept about how the world works are built gradually and become increasingly complex as the children enters a rich learning environment and exercises their freedom to

Children have a natural affinity for sand play. Teachers can build on their interest by providing children with inviting props, asking appropriate questions, and scheduling ample time for children to work through with their play ideas. This is a best activity for children’s to teach mathematic, alphabet, science and arts. Although play is a difficult concept to define, it is very easy to recognize. Children actively involved in play may be engaged in a variety of activities, independently, with a partner, or in a group. Because play is closely tied to the cognitive, socio-emotional, and motor development of young children, it is an important part of developmentally appropriate early childhood