Cognitive Development of Young Children

A child’s brain undergoes a crucial period of development from birth to the age of three (Zero to

Three, 2021). During this time, it produces more than a million neural connections each second,

creating the foundation upon which future development will be built. According to Center on the

Developing Child (2021), early experiences create biological “memories” that shape future

development. Toxic stress during early stages of life can interfere with the development of the

stress response systems of the body and affect the developing brain architecture, the

cardiovascular system, metabolic regulatory controls, and the immune system that can persist

into adulthood leading to lifelong impairments. This is why it is very important to promote

cognitive development for infants and toddlers.

The indicators and examples of behaviors for the components of exploration and discovery,

memory, problem solving, and imitation and symbolic play in young infant (birth to 8 months),

older infant (6-18 months), and toddler (15-36 months) (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2021;

CDC).

1. Young infant (birth to 8 months)

Exploration and discovery

 Finds partially hidden object

 Explores with hands and mouth

 Struggles to get objects that are out of reach

 Pays attention to faces

 Begins to follow things with eyes and recognize people at a distance

 Reaches for toy with one hand

 Uses hands and eyes together, such as seeing a toy and reaching for it

 Follows moving things with eyes from side to side

 Watches faces closely

 Looks around at things nearby

 Brings things to mouth

 Shows curiosity about things and tries to get things that are out of reach

Memory

 Begins to pass things from one hand to the other

 Recognizes familiar people and things at a distance

Problem solving

 Begins to act bored (cries, fussy) if activity doesn’t change

Imitation and symbolic play

 Lets you know if she is happy or sad

 Responds to affection

2. Older infant (6-18 months)

Exploration and discovery

 Explores objects in different ways

 Finds hidden objects easily

 Shows curiosity about things and tries to get things that are out of reach

 Looks around at things nearby

 Brings things to mouth

 Begins to pass things from one hand to the other

 Watches the path of something as it falls

 Looks for things he sees you hide

 Explores things in different ways, like shaking, banging, throwing

 Pokes with index (pointer) finger

 Follows simple directions like “pick up the toy

 Points to get the attention of others

Memory

 Looks at correct picture when the image is named

 Imitates gestures

 Moves things smoothly from one hand to the other

 Picks up things like cereals between thumb and index finger

 Looks at the right picture or thing when it’s named

 Copies gestures

 Starts to use things correctly; for example, drinks from a cup, brushes hair

 Bangs two things together

 Finds hidden things easily

 Knows what ordinary things are for; for example, telephone, spoon

 Puts things in a container, takes things out of a container

 Lets things go without help

 Shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feed

 Scribbles on his own

 Can follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures; for example, sits when you say

“sit down”

Problem solving

 Begins to use objects correctly

Imitation and symbolic play

 Plays peek-a-boo

3. Toddler (15-36 months).

Exploration and discovery

 Points to get the attention of others

 Points to one body part

 Builds towers of 4 or more blocks

 Might use one hand more than the other

 Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts

Memory

 Knows what ordinary things are for; for example, telephone, brush, spoon

 Scribbles on his own

 Can follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures; for example, sits when you say

“sit down”

 Finds things even when hidden under two or three covers

 Begins to sort shapes and colors

 Completes sentences and rhymes in familiar books

 Understands what “two” means

 Copies a circle with pencil or crayon

 Turns book pages one at a time

 Builds towers of more than 6 blocks

 Follows two-step instructions such as “Pick up your shoes and put them in the closet.”

 Names items in a picture book such as a cat, bird, or dog

Problem solving

 Does puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces

 Screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door handle

Imitation and symbolic play

 Plays simple make-believe games

 Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people

 Shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feed

References

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021). Ages & Stages. Retrieved from

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/Pages/default.aspx

CDC. Milestone Checklist. Retrieved from

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/pdf/checklists/all_checklists.pdf

Center on the Developing Child. (2021). Lifelong Health. Retrieved from

https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/deep-dives/lifelong-health/

Zero to Three. (2021). Brain Development. Retrieved from https://www.zerotothree.org/early-

development/brain-development