What has become an important alternative to Piagetian approaches?

Due to the shortcomings in Piaget's approach to cognitive development several other theories were put forward.

Explanation:

Jean Piaget is the psychologist that offered explanations about cognitive development in children. There were several shortcomings in his theories and thus alternative theories about cognitive development in children were developed.

Lev Vygotsky proposed another explanation to children's cognitive development. He strongly emphasized on the influence of culture on children's cognitive development. He believes that it is through socio-cultural interactions development progresses.

He believed that individualized thoughts begin after these interactions. He take on self-speech was different from Piaget. Vygotsky considered self-speech as a guide to thinking while Piaget thought self-speech to be egocentric.