7 Sentences From Piaget On Childhood And Learning

Jean Piaget was a well-known constructivist psychologist in the fields of child psychology and learning. His studies and research have influenced evolutionary psychology and modern pedagogy. Piaget’s sentences are a clear example of his passion for the study of development.

Piaget had children from whom he learned a great deal. Through detailed observation of their growth,  he developed a theory about intelligence and established certain stages in infant cognitive development.

We have therefore selected 7 sentences from this great man that speak to us about the two themes that fascinated him the most: childhood and learning. Here they are.

1. It is important not to always do the same thing

Why do the same things again? Piaget harshly criticizes the education system with this sentence. This could still apply today. In how many schools do we develop creativity? The answer is: very little. The majority focus on a program and the assessment of exam scores to determine the level of students.

Children sit for hours listening to boring teachers. The dynamics are still the same. Do exercises, memorize lessons and rewrite them in an exam. There is no learning, there is no criticism, there is no reasoning. Nobody questions things. Is this really what we want?

2. The real meaning of education

We have heard phrases like “stop jumping” or “behave like a grown-up” for a long time. We are not allowed to be children. We are pushed to become very quickly this stereotype of dominant adult in society, which lives at full speed through automatism.

All of this limits us, locks us in and prevents us from standing out. As Piaget says,  education should develop creative adults, full of new ideas. Not adult conformists. However, we observe quite the opposite …

3. Children can teach us new things

This is one of Piaget’s quotes that best reflects his interest in the world of children. And, above all, his admiration for them. Piaget knew that thanks to children we can learn new things. Even if we are not aware of it.

Children are not yet infected by society. They are free, creative, inventive and curious. However, as we grow up, we lose this interest in the world and we immerse ourselves in a series of paradigms that limit and hinder us. Maybe we should learn a little more from the little ones …

4. The teacher is not a speaker

Many teachers come into their classrooms, explain the subject they are teaching, give exercises to do and go to give their next lesson. This is not the real role of a teacher. A teacher should be more active and get involved in stimulating his students.

Piaget puts it in a very wise way, explaining that  the teacher should promote the initiatives of his pupils and strengthen their curiosity. This is what real learning is.

5. Playing is child labor

Here is another sentence that refers to childhood and  the importance of play for childhood development. It is therefore essential to develop it in the little ones instead of imposing restrictions on them. Playing is precisely the work of children. Through play, a whole world of possibilities begins to emerge, both individually and socially.

6. Let the children discover the world

Adults know everything. But not the smallest. It is therefore not necessary to explain everything to them. We must give them a margin so that they can discover the world for themselves. So that they can ask questions and have their own experiences.

7. Keep your child’s soul

Want to boost your creativity? Do you want to increase your capacity for invention? So keep your child’s soul. Children are free and their thoughts are not distorted or contaminated by adult society.

With this last sentence from Piaget, we can think of all those times when we judge and limit ourselves. Why do we lack curiosity? Maybe we should turn our gaze to the little ones and start forgetting what we have learned that limits us so much.

Each of Piaget’s sentences is a reflection of his gaze, of his way of perceiving the world and, more particularly, children. He gives us a series of critiques on facts that have not yet been resolved and gives us some very wise teachings. We hope you liked these sentences. Which one has marked you the most?

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