Question

Last 25 How does a parent influence cognitive development using Vygotsky's concepts of scaffolding and Zone of Proximal Development?

Answer 1

Vygotsky Theory is developed by a Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky and the theory states that the cognitive development of the children is improved through social interaction with other people specifically those who are more skilled than them. His famous concept of zone of proximal development describes the learning process of the children .As per Vygotsky theory the child can perform the activity or task independently but not completely and they need some help to complete the task. Parents apply these theories in many ways to enhance the skill of the child. For example learning to drive a bicycle for their child of 7 years of old, The kid will definitely require the support of his/her parent to hold the bicycle for them so that they can balance the ride. After some attempts he child will learn to drive the cycle by own as this zone of the child can be considered under Zone of proximal development. This concept of the zone also clearly indicates that Social influences such as getting instructions are very crucial for the cognitive development of the child. This example can be applied to scaffolding also as the child first learn to drive the cycle the parent has to give constant support until she /he gains balance and learn to drive independently. Parents can then support the child only when the child loses the balance and to stabilize the cycle. Gradually when the child masters the skills of cycling parents is no longer required to support and the child can now estimate and balance the cycle by their own on another word removing the scaffolds. Another example is when the child gets the projects as home works and they will have all the idea to do the project but definitely they need some support from the parents as outline support to complete the project successfully. The next time if the child gets the same kind of project he or she can do by their own with the knowledge acquired from the previous learning.