New research shows that young children are systematic problem-solvers at a younger age than previously thought.
At first glance, children can appear to think in unconventional ways, and their behavior might seem a bit disorganized. This seemingly chaotic approach was the inspiration for the well-known theory of developmental psychologist Jean Piaget. Piaget proposed that children build their understanding of the world through experience and must progress through four sequential stages. According to his theory, children in the first two stages do not yet possess the ability to use structured logic.
Piaget is a monumental figure in developmental psychology. His work forever changed how the world views children by demonstrating that kids don't start life with the same conceptual knowledge as adults; rather, they must construct it through interaction with their environment.
While Piaget accurately observed that children engage in many unusual behaviors, recent findings challenge some long-held assumptions, originating from his work, about the boundaries of children’s logical capabilities.
The new research suggests that children are actually able to discover logical strategies spontaneously much earlier when a situation demands it. This means we should interpret Piaget’s original data with more nuance. Even if children tend to favor less logical-seeming solutions during the first two Piagetian stages, it's not because they are incapable of thinking otherwise if the circumstances require structured thought.
Algorithmic thinking is an essential skill that helps children learn to move and operate in the world—and we now know they can access these abilities far earlier than psychologists had believed.
The fact that young children can engage in algorithmic thinking before any formal instruction has significant implications for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. Parents and educators need to reconsider when and how they offer children the chance to tackle more abstract problems and concepts. Knowing that children’s minds are ready for structured problems as early as preschool means we can nurture these fundamental abilities earlier, supporting the development of stronger math and computational skills.
Picture: Young children can discover logical strategies (Gemini)
