ABSTRACT
Background: Today's common typologies and categories of children's toys are mainly decided by the manufacturers and retailers of children's products. Such categorizations are not based on a theoretical understanding of child development and therefore cannot provide information about the opportunities that toys provide for the young. Objective: This study proposed three criteria for categorizing toys based on the cultural-historical approach: their degree of realism; their degree of anthropomorphism; and their degree of detail. These criteria were chosen as a result of an analysis of theoretical works carried out in the framework of cultural-historical approach. Design: The proposed criteria were tested through an experiment measuring children's toy preferences. The participants were 129 children of ages 3-4 years. Experimental data confirmed that most children do prefer realistic and detailed toys rather than those with fewer of these properties. The contribution of socio-demographic factors and the children's individual developmental indicators to their toy preference was also analyzed. Results: The study revealed that among various socio-demographic factors, only the child's gender and the number of siblings in the family acted as significant predictors for the toy preferences. None of child's developmental characteristics (nonverbal intelligence, executive functions, and emotional understanding) were found to be significant predictors of preference for particular toys. Conclusions: The assumption that toys can be assessed in terms of their realism and degree of detail found empirical support. The results of this study may be useful in designing further research and in the practical issue of toy selection for children age 3-4 years.
ABSTRACT
In the last decade, global trends and social media have covered almost the entire world, including children population. The toy industry is filled with new items whose popularity has been triggered by viral publications on social networks or by popular animated films. The present experimental study is the first to (i) describe the characteristics of toy choice in the context of the spread of global trends, and (ii) examine the influence of family and individual child characteristics on the dependence on trends in toy choice. The sample consisted of N = 127 children aged 3-4 years. Children had individual assessment of non-verbal intelligence main executive function skills (cognitive flexibility, working memory and inhibition control) and took part in the experiment, while their parents completed a questionnaire on family background. Analysis of children's answers about the reason for choosing a particular toy indicates uncertain motivation in choosing a trendy toy in contrast to the classic ones. It is reflected in the fact that children do not know what exactly and how they will play with it. It is revealed that boys are 1.66 times more likely to prefer the trendy toy than girls. It was also found that as inhibitory control increased, children were less dependent on tendencies to choose toys.
ABSTRACT
Resumen El objetivo de este estudio es caracterizar el nivel de adquisición de la función simbólica en niños preescolares colombianos. Participaron 39 niños a quienes se les aplicó el protocolo de evaluación psicológica cualitativa que permite caracterizar la adquisición de la función simbólica en los niveles materializado, perceptivo y verbal; basado en el concepto de la zona del desarrollo próximo lo cual implica la participación activa del niño, y diversas formas de ayuda por parte del evaluador. Los resultados señalan un bajo nivel de desarrollo de la función simbólica al final de la edad preescolar; además posibilitan conocer cómo el niño preescolar realiza tareas simbólicas a partir de apoyos verbales del adulto. Se discute la importancia del espacio de colaboración entre el adulto y los niños en el que se usa el lenguaje como medio de apoyo para la ejecución de acciones simbólicas y para la creación independiente de diversas formas de representación materializada, perceptiva y verbal.
Abstract The aim of this study is to characterize the acquisition level of the symbolic function in Colombian preschool children in the city of Bogotá. The study involved 39 children. Children were assessed by a protocol of qualitative psychological evaluation to characterize the acquisition of the symbolic function in materialized, perceptual and verbal levels. The protocol is based on the zone of proximal development concept, which involves the active participation of children and the use of various forms of assistance from the evaluator. The results of the protocol evaluation indicate a low development level of the symbolic function at the end of preschool age. The findings of this study are useful in both education and psychology fields, as it possible to know how the preschool child performs symbolic tasks from the adult's verbal support. The importance of cooperation space between adult and children in which language is used as a means of support for the implementation of symbolic actions and for independent creation of various forms of materialized, perceptual, and verbal representation is discussed.
ABSTRACT
este artigo apresenta um recorte de uma pesquisa de doutorado, com alunos que apresentam deficiência intelectual, matriculados em uma escola regular da rede pública do Rio de Janeiro, entre os anos de 2009 e 2012. A pesquisa-ação colaborativa e a abordagem histórico-cultural foram as bases teórico-metodológicas para investigar a elaboração dos processos de ensino e aprendizagem e a formação de conceitos por um aluno com deficiência intelectual. Os episódios da interação professor aluno, filmados na sala de aula e na sala de recursos, indicaram possibilidades de ações pedagógicas com vistas a situações de ensino conducente à construção de conceitos pelo aluno com deficiência intelectual. Além disso, constatou-se que a abordagem teórico-metodológica foi favorável à organização, de forma colaborativa, das atividades de ensino, pelas professoras de sala de aula e da sala de recursos, com procedimentos de ensino mais adequados ao processo de aprendizagem do aluno com deficiência intelectual, na escola regular.Tal proposta se coaduna com a perspectiva de ensino de qualidade para todos.
This article presents part of a doctoral study with students who have learning disabilities, who were enrolled in a regular public school in Rio de Janeiro between the years 2009 and 2012. Collaborative action research and cultural-historical approach were the theoretical and methodological bases to investigate the development of both processes of teaching and learning and the formation of concepts by a student with intellectual disabilities. From episodes filmed in the classroom and in the resource room, the data collected and analyzed indicated possibilities of pedagogical action aimed at concept construction situations by students with intellectual disabilities. Furthermore, it was found that the theoretical-methodological approach was favorable to cooperative organization of educational activities by teachers in the classroom as well as in there source room, with the most suitable teaching procedures to ensure learning conditions for students with intellectual disabilities in regular school. This proposal is consistent with the perspective of quality education for all.
ABSTRACT
Conceitos e práticas atuais relacionados à condição de deficiência intelectual ainda são influenciados por compreensões normativas de desenvolvimento que, por vezes, restringem a pessoa com esse diagnóstico à categoria de eterna criança. O conjunto de ferramentas conceituais apresentado pela perspectiva histórico-cultural permite discussão crítica da deficiência intelectual sob um prisma complexo e dinâmico, no qual as capacidades são valorizadas, observando-se contínuo desenvolvimento da pessoa na relação com seu meio. No entrelaçamento das condições ambientais, histórico-culturais e subjetivas há ressignificação de si, da própria condição de deficiência e do mundo. Em meio a esse conjunto de fatores, a menoridade perene dá lugar à possibilidade de autonomia e visão crítica de si. Buscamos neste trabalho oferecer argumentos que possam gerar reflexões críticas sobre a condição a que se tem denominado deficiência intelectual. Discorremos sobre a construção histórico-social do fenômeno em questão; discutimos a relação entre os modelos médico e social vigentes na atualidade e a influência na construção de conceitos e crenças sobre a pessoa com deficiência; apresentamos a perspectiva histórico-cultural como alternativa à compreensão cristalizada de deficiência intelectual e, por fim, ressaltamos possibilidades de desenvolvimento adulto compatíveis com as condições contextuais dos indivíduos na atualidade.
Many concepts and current practices related to the condition of intellectual disability remain strongly influenced by a normative understanding of developmental processes that often maintain the person diagnosed as disabled in a position of never ending childhood. The set of conceptual tools presented by the cultural-historical approach provides for a critical discussion of intellectual disability according to complex and dynamic viewpoints, in which abilities are valued, while the person's ongoing development in relation to the environment is also considered. Amid the intertwined environmental, sociocultural, and subjective conditions there is room for re-signifying self, one's condition of disability and the world. Among this group of factors, eternal childhood gives place to autonomy and a critical view of self. In this study we aim to put forth arguments to support critical reflections about the condition called intellectual disability. First, we discuss the cultural-historical construction of the phenomenon of intellectual disability. Next, we focus on and compare the main concepts and beliefs related to disability put forth by the medical model and the social approaches to disabilities. The cultural-historical approach is then presented as a potential theoretical alternative to substitute crystallized conceptions. Lastly, we highlight some of the developmental potentials of adults with intellectual disabilities, compatible with the individuals' current conditions in context.
