What Is Cognitive Development?

■ Cognitive development in children focuses on the advancement of

processing information pertaining to perceptual skills, language
abilities, attention, memory, decision-making, and learning.
■ Cognitive development in babies depends on various antenatal and
postnatal factors such as the mother’s health during pregnancy,
the gestational age of the baby at delivery (for example, a baby
born at 38 weeks may reach milestone slower than a baby born at
40 weeks ) complication at the time of birth, illness during early
years, as well as genetics and environmental factors.
Simple Reflexes (0-1 Month)
Coordination of
sensation and action
through reflexive
behaviors.
■ Sucking of objects in
the mouth
■ Moving or interesting
objects with the eyes
■ Closing of the hand
when an object makes
contact with the palm
 2 Months Old
■ Pay attention to faces
■ Begins to follow things
with eyes and
recognize people at a
distance
■ Begins to act bored
(example: crying and
fussy) if the activity
does not change
 6 MONTHS OLD
■ Looks around at
things nearby
■ Bring things to mouth
■ Shows curiosity
about things and
tries to get things
that out of reach
■ Begins to pass things
to one hand to
another.
12 MONTHS/1 YEAR OLD
■Explore things in
different way, like
shaking, banging,
throwing
■Finds hidden things
looks at the right things
when It is named.
■Copies gestures and
start to use things
correctly.
■Put things in a correct
container or let things
go without help
■Pokes with index
(pointer) Follows simple
direction like “ pick up
the toy”
18 MONTHS/1&6 MONTHS OLD
■ Knows what are ordinary
things are: for example
cellphone, brush and
spoon.
■ Points to one body part
■ Points to get the
attention of others
■ Scribbles oh his/her own
■ Can follow one-step
verbal commands without
any gestures (example
sits when you say “sit
24 MONTHS/ 2 YEARS OLD
■ Find things even when hidden
under two or three cover
■ Begins to sort shapes and
colors
■ Completes sentences and
rhymes in familiar books
■ Plays simple make believe
games
■ Builds tower of 4 or more blocks
■ Follows two-step direction like
“Pick-up your shoes and put
them in the closet”
3 YEARS OLD
■ Can work with toys with
buttons and moving
parts
■ Understand what “two”
means
■ Turn pages one at a time
and copies circle with a
pencil or crayons.
■ Screw jar lids and door
knobs.
■ Does puzzles with 3 or
more pieces
4 YEAR’S OLD

• Ask “why” questions to gain information

• Can count to 5
• Draw the shape of a person and can sing rhyme
song
• Tell where they live
• Organize objects by size and shape
• Can name and identity many colors
• Learn by observing and listening instructions also
understand direction on how to do the tasks.
4 YEAR’S OLD
Thank you!