Major Milestones in Cognitive Development
Infants (birth - 1 year old)
Although infants are not known for their critical thinking prowess, this stage of early childhood development has its fair share of cognitive milestone markers that parents can follow. When your infant is between 4 and 7 months of age, he/she will show the ability to understand simple cause-and-effect principles. For example, when he/she drops a rattle on the floor, he/she will notice that it makes a noise. By 12 months, your infant will begin to understand the concept of object permanence. Mastering this cognitive milestone means that your child understands that when an object is out of view it is not necessarily gone.
Although infants are not known for their critical thinking prowess, this stage of early childhood development has its fair share of cognitive milestone markers that parents can follow. When your infant is between 4 and 7 months of age, he/she will show the ability to understand simple cause-and-effect principles. For example, when he/she drops a rattle on the floor, he/she will notice that it makes a noise. By 12 months, your infant will begin to understand the concept of object permanence. Mastering this cognitive milestone means that your child understands that when an object is out of view it is not necessarily gone.
Toddlers (1 - 2 years old)
During the early toddler years, from 12 to 24 months, your toddler is building his/her concentration and problem-solving skills. While these abilities are far from mature, your growing toddler's cognitive development sets the stage for later progress. Building on object permanence concepts, the young toddler will understand simple games like hide-and-seek, and he/she will understand that when you leave him/her (like dropping off at daycare) you will come back. By 2 years, most toddlers use a more thought-filled learning process instead of solely manipulating objects. Additionally, the older toddler can understand how different objects relate to one another, allowing him/her to try out basic puzzles or sorting games.
During the early toddler years, from 12 to 24 months, your toddler is building his/her concentration and problem-solving skills. While these abilities are far from mature, your growing toddler's cognitive development sets the stage for later progress. Building on object permanence concepts, the young toddler will understand simple games like hide-and-seek, and he/she will understand that when you leave him/her (like dropping off at daycare) you will come back. By 2 years, most toddlers use a more thought-filled learning process instead of solely manipulating objects. Additionally, the older toddler can understand how different objects relate to one another, allowing him/her to try out basic puzzles or sorting games.
Preschoolers (2 - 4 years old)
Preschoolers are making cognitive strides in the way they think and in the activities they are able to engage in. By 4 years of age, children are able to independently make decisions, have increased attention focusing skills (compared to a younger child), can understand simple sequencing and time concepts (such as before and after) and can ask for problem-solving help that’s appropriate to the issue at hand. For example, if you ask your preschooler to put on his/her shoes, he/she can go to the closet, choose which shoes to wear, and then ask you to help tie them.
Preschoolers are making cognitive strides in the way they think and in the activities they are able to engage in. By 4 years of age, children are able to independently make decisions, have increased attention focusing skills (compared to a younger child), can understand simple sequencing and time concepts (such as before and after) and can ask for problem-solving help that’s appropriate to the issue at hand. For example, if you ask your preschooler to put on his/her shoes, he/she can go to the closet, choose which shoes to wear, and then ask you to help tie them.
Young Grade Schoolers (4 - 8 years old)
While you might think of "early childhood" as synonymous with the preschool years and earlier, this time encompasses kids up to age 8. That said, kindergarten and the earliest grade school years are a time when your child is refining her cognitive skills and thinking in a much more mature way. At 6 years of age, a child can think in an abstract manner, engage in complex pretend play and create imaginative solutions when trying to complete tasks.
While you might think of "early childhood" as synonymous with the preschool years and earlier, this time encompasses kids up to age 8. That said, kindergarten and the earliest grade school years are a time when your child is refining her cognitive skills and thinking in a much more mature way. At 6 years of age, a child can think in an abstract manner, engage in complex pretend play and create imaginative solutions when trying to complete tasks.
In order to help facilitate a child's basic cognitive processes, here are some tips:
- Provide a variety of sensory experiences for infants and young children
- Watch for and address significant problems in perception
- Help children pay attention to things that are important for them to learn and remember
- Relate new information to children's existing knowledge
- Remember that children can think about only a small amount of information at any one time
- When determining what children know or are ready to learn, consider not only what they say but also what they do and create
- Give children ongoing practice in basic information and skills
