Considering the "kindergarten-path effect," if your 4.5-year-old sister was asked to Put the bunny on the blanket on the shelf, what would she do?
A) She would have no trouble following the directions, since cognitive control in children is quite developed from a very early age.
B) There is less than a 50 percent chance that she would follow the directions as they are given, as children her age seem to have a tough time understanding ambiguous sentences.
C) She would not be able to follow the directions, as cognitive control does not begin to mature until adolescence.
D) She would put both the bunny and the blanket on the shelf, as children interpret such sentences as indicating that all objects listed are subject to the action.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The "kindergarten-path effect" suggests that young children may have difficulty understanding ambiguous sentences, such as "Put the bunny on the blanket on the shelf." Therefore, there is less than a 50 percent chance that the 4.5-year-old sister would follow the directions as they are given. Option A and C are incorrect as they suggest the cognitive abilities of young children are either overdeveloped or underdeveloped. Option D is incorrect as it presents a specific action that may not necessarily align with the sister's understanding of the sentence.

Considering the "Kindergarten-Path Effect," If Your 4