The purpose of this course is to provide students with anunderstanding and working knowledge of both the content and processes of cognitive and language development in children from birth through eight years of age. The primary foci of the course are understanding different theoretical frameworks: (1) examining sequences and variations in the processes of cognitive change; (2) the interaction between the child and the social context; (3) the interaction of cognitive development with children's symbolic representation of knowledge particularly language development; and (4) the role of play in the development of cognition and language. Students learn how to conduct and report observations of children's thinking and learning. They also learn to apply different theories of cognitive development and to recognize their implications for practice with children of difffering needs and abilities in a range of programs in culturally diverse settings.