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The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is the difference between what a learner can do without help and what they can achieve with guidance and encouragement from a skilled partner. In child development, it refers to the range of tasks that are too difficult for the child to master alone but that can be learned with assistance. This concept emphasizes the importance of social interaction in cognitive development.

Scaffolding is a teaching method that involves providing support to a child just beyond their current capability in the ZPD. As the child's abilities increase, the support is gradually removed. This process fosters independence and development of problem-solving skills. In practice, this can involve strategies like giving hints, modeling behaviors, or breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.

Social Constructivism is a theory that suggests knowledge is constructed within social contexts through interactions with others. It posits that cognitive functions are developed from social interactions and that learning is inherently a social process. In child psychology, this manifests as the understanding that children learn and develop problem-solving strategies through observing and working with others.

The More Knowledgeable Other (MKO) is someone who has a better understanding or a higher ability level than the learner with respect to a particular task, process, or concept. The MKO could be a teacher, a peer, a parent, or even a computer program. In child development, the MKO provides the scaffolding needed for the child to move through their Zone of Proximal Development.