Les relations du temps, de la vitesse et de l'espace parcouru chez le jeune enfant

The child's conception of time and speed was investigated developmentally in subjects aged 5 to 8 years (N = 54). Children were presented with a series of problems in which two of three parameters (time, speed, and distance) varied, while the third parameter was held constant. The 5 and 6 year old children established two by two relationships (juxtaposed couples of parameters). An analysis of the degree of centration on certain couples and of the age-related evolution of the answers was conducted. The results led to interpretations of : 1) the errors observed, 2) the forms of reasoning that exist within the age range tested and, 3) the influence of the child's spatial and cinematic conceptions.