Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development: implications for nurse assistance of children's learning.

Vygotsky's general theoretical framework of cognitive development is reviewed, including his concept of the zone of proximal development: the region of potential mastery lying between the level at which the child has the ability for independent performance and the level at which the child can master the task only with adult collaboration. Examples of the use of Vygotskian theory in nursing practice are provided.