Challenges Faced by Children in Cognitive and Social Development

This essay delves into the multifaceted challenges faced by children during their cognitive and social development, using a case study of a child named Jack who struggles with speech and toilet training. The essay examines the significance of the 3-5 year age group in child development, highlighting the importance of cognitive stages like sensorimotor and preoperational phases, and linking these to language processing and overall development. Piaget's and Erikson's theories are used to understand the challenges. The essay also emphasizes the role of nurses in supporting the child's cognitive and social growth, including addressing speech difficulties and toilet training issues. The importance of family support, a welcoming environment, and access to resources are highlighted. The essay concludes by underscoring the crucial role of nurses in facilitating the holistic development of children, and providing recommendations for effective measures to support both cognitive and social development.

Running head: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Human development and life transition
The current assignment focuses on the challenges faced by child in the process of
attaining potential cognitive growth and development. The child jack mentioned over here faces
problem in speaking and is unable to do toilet training. The following roles of nurses have been
discussed with the help of theories. In the process of attaining potential cognitive growth and
development, children face many challenges (Siegler, 2016).The child jack mentioned over here
faces problems passing through the different developmental stages. In this context, 3-5 years are
an important stage in development and nurses are required to pay special attention children
belonging to the particular age group.
Cognitive development
Piaget’s development theory could be divided in to different components such as –
sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operations. The sensorimotor and pre-
operational stages are very important as they serve as the foundation stage for the language
processing and development of an individual ( Lillard et al. 2013).Operational development is
based upon the sensory memory which is based upon looking and listening to the manner in
which adults speak to each other on the phone or in person. The cognitive stages of development
are linked with the other biological and the psychosocial changes (Bjorklund& Causey, 2017).
The normative development in cognition occurs based on thought process within the age group
of 3-5 years. In the case study, the child Jack need to be put in a competitive growth environment
supporting the optimum growth of the child (shirk, 2013).

1HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
The cognition development of the child could be accessed by the Piaget’s theory of
cognitive development. As per the theory, the child jack being 3 years old and falls in the
Preoperational stage of cognitive development (Hechter, 2017). In this stage, the child is able to
imagine and the intuitions of the child are strong. However, processing complex and abstract
thoughts are difficult. The child should be able to use proper syntax and grammar to properly
express his thoughts. As per the theory, the child jack being 3 years old falls in the
Preoperational stage of cognitive development. In this stage, the child is able to imagine
and intuition of the child are strong, however processing complex and abstract thoughts
are difficult. The child should be able to use proper syntax and grammar to properly
express his thoughts. However, Jack was suffering from speech issues, which made the
expression of clear thought processes difficult for him. The nurses looking after the care
concerns of the child need to break down the complex words into simple understandable
terms. Moreover, encouraging jack into speaking more often, providing the child with a
friendly and compassionate environment can help in supporting the cognitive development
of the child. Moreover, encouraging the child into speaking more often, providing the child with
a friendly and compassionate environment can help in supporting the cognitive development of
the child. Thus, childhood is an important stage for the development of cognition.
Social development
Social development is a significant part of childhood. The social development of a child
can be explained through Erikson’s social development model. Erikson’s social development
model justifies the problems faced by the child. During this stage, the child suffers from mixed
feelings of autonomy versus shame and the child does not want to take initiative for self-
management of daily activities. As commented by Hechter (2017), involvement of the child in

2HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
the care planning process can help in generating more curiosity in the child. Additionally,
inculcation of informed decision making within the nursing practices can provide more
autonomy to the child. The child jack is also facing problems with development of the social
etiquettes with regard to communicating clearly and having a good toilet control. The role of the
nurses is to identify the root cause of the problem and provide suitable solutions to overcome
with the problem. Additionally, relationship with parents also plays a critical role in determining
the growth and development of the child. Thus, sufficient amount of support from the family
members in the education and the literacy of the child can play an effective role in the social
development of the child. As asserted by Howlinet al. (2014), a welcoming environment can
make the child more proactive and verbally expressive. The social development facets are
designed by the Erikson’s stage of social development. The psychological and social factors
intermingle which increase the social development which mainly occurs in 8 stages (Doise, et al,
2013).The first stage is dependent mainly on making queries in which they are dependent on
mother for answerting questions like “Can the world be trusted”. In the age of 2-7, a child has a
will to learn which include examples such as toilet training and managing their daily
requirements by themselves. In this case, the child of Vanessa had problems duringtoilet training.
This resulted in the impairment of learning skills in the child (unyHart, 2013).
The case study indicates that Jack is also facing problems with the development of the
social etiquettes with regard to communicating clearly and having a good toilet control.
Additionally, relationship with parents also plays acritical role in determining the growth and
development of the child. Thus, sufficient amount of support from the family members in the
education and the literacy of the child can play an effective role in the social development of the
child. As commented by Lillardet al. (2013), economic constraints can also hinder the optimum

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growth and social development of the child by limiting the resources.The cultural factors also
play an immense role in the growth and development of the child.
The aspect of reduction in social development of children could be attributed to less
interaction with parents and society in general. Here, Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive
development can be taken into consideration, where the social development of a child is
preceded by interactions with the community. As commented by Schore (2015), genes and the
health together play roles behind the social and learning development. The physical development
and health conditions of the child are other factors. If the stress is paralleled during the
development, then the cognitive development can be impaired. Poor health of a child affects the
thinking, reasoning, interacting and learning procedure of the child which is necessary during
their speech and learning development (Lillard et al, 2013) .
Piaget’s theory will help the nurses and midwives both in guiding Vanessa to take effective
measures that are going to be helpful for the development of the child. The nurses and the
midwives can interact with mother and will make her understand the root cause of depression has
lead to impairment in learning of the child (Howlin et al, 2014).
The nurse can play an effective role in the overall social and cognitive development of
the child. Some of these can be achieved by advocating policies for better access to proper
housing, learning and nutritious food. The nurse can play an effective role in the overall social
and cognitive development of the child. Some of these can be achieved by advocating policies
for better access to proper housing, learning and nutritious food. Nourishment has been seen to
play strong role in the cognition development of the child. Additionally, supporting the
development of proper parenting skills through community action program could be useful.
Thus, putting Vanessa in one of these community programs was a good alternative.

4HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Nourishment has been seento play strong role in the cognition development of the child.
Additionally, supporting the development of proper parenting skills through community action
program could be useful (Bjorklund & Causey, 2017).
Conclusion
The essay has focused on childhood development by drawing on a case study of Jack.
This theory also helps the nurse and midwives in guiding the parents to obtain effective measures
in the proper development of the child. This theory also helps the nurse and midwives in guiding
the parents to obtain effective measures in the proper development of the child. The nurse also
effectively helps in social development of the child by identifying and implementing the
appropriate solutions to overcome the difficulties in proper communication and good toilet
control. Thus it can be concluded that the nurse play a major role in the overall development of a
child. Therefore, there is no doubt that nurses should understand the significance of childhood
development.

5HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
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