In the example of assimilation, what does a child demonstrate when seeing a white horse for the first time?

In the concept of assimilation, a child applies existing knowledge or schemas to new experiences. When the child sees a white horse for the first time and correctly identifies it as a horse, this process is a clear example of assimilation. The child already understands the concept of a horse and is able to integrate this new information into their existing mental framework without needing to alter their understanding. This demonstrates the ability to recognize similarities between the new experience (the white horse) and prior knowledge (the general concept of horses), facilitating cognitive development by reinforcing and expanding existing schemas.

Conversely, options involving confusion or incorrect identification would indicate a lack of assimilation, as the child would be struggling to integrate the new information effectively. Ignoring the horse entirely would suggest a complete disengagement from the experience rather than a cognitive process that incorporates new knowledge.