Cognitive Development in Early Childhood: Complete Guide 

Cognitive development means helping children think, learn, and solve problems better. It’s about supporting their ability to remember things, understand ideas, and use language.

You can simply say it’s rational or logical development!

Well, it’s more like not just focusing on one part of your intelligence. But, learn to use full of one’s mind potential like observing, analyzing, and executing things.

So, it’s not wrong to say that It’s the most crucial part of overall development. Isn’t it?

Let’s discuss more! There are some key areas of cognitive development in kids, which include:

• Language Development
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Logical Reasoning
• Memory
• Critical Thinking Ability
• Creative Development

You can say that these are essential skills of a child’s intellectual development.

Why is Cognitive Development Important?

Cognitive development is really important because it sets the stage for how well kids will learn and do in the future.

From birth to age 5, children build essential skills like pre-reading, language, vocabulary, and numeracy. These early skills are like the first bricks for bigger skills later on.

You may notice in your surroundings that even before they can talk, babies are soaking up language skills. By their first words, they already understand lots about how language works.

Think of cognitive development like a tree’s roots. Just as strong roots support a healthy tree, strong thinking skills support a child’s ability to learn and succeed in life.

As per the National Institutes of Health (NIH), “Kids who get a good start with cognitive skills tend to do better in school and later in life.”

But for cognitive development, you need to know about what stages of growth it has. Am I right?

Four Stages of Child’s Cognitive Development

You might know about a famous psychologist, Jean Piaget, who had this idea about how kids grow up and learn. He said they go through four stages of thinking that get more advanced as they get older.

Stage	Age Range	Goal
Sensorimotor	Birth to 18-24 months	Develop object permanence
Preoperational	2 to 7 years old	Develop symbolic thought
Concrete Operational	Ages 7 to 11 years	Develop logical thought
Formal Operational	Adolescence to adulthood	Develop scientific reasoning

I hope the above table gives you a clear idea. It’s a general process of developing one’s intellectual ability.

First, babies learn by touching and exploring (Sensorimotor stage). Then, kids start using words and pictures to express themselves (Preoperational stage).

Next, they learn to think logically about real things they can see and touch (Concrete Operational stage). Finally, when they’re older, they can think about big ideas and solve problems in their heads (Formal Operational stage).

I know, based on the above data, you can’t see which level your child has. But no worry I will explain you in details…So keep reading!

Track Your Child’s Cognitive Development with Milestones

Monitoring your child’s thinking and learning from infancy to early school years can help you understand their progress and support their growth.

If you know about your child’s skills, you will help them better.

That’s why I made a simple list that gives you an idea of different levels of development as they grow. See and know about your child’s skills!

Infants (Birth – 12 months):

• Learns about things by touching and exploring
• Watches faces and follows moving objects
• Begins to understand that objects still exist even when they can’t see them

Toddlers (1 – 2 years):

• Plays with toys that have buttons and moving parts
• Pretends with dolls and toys
• Does simple puzzles and builds with blocks

Preschoolers (3 – 5 years):

Age 3:

• Does simple puzzles and builds tall towers with blocks
• Can count 1-10
• Draws circles and names objects in pictures
• Follows simple directions and learns about safety

Age 4:

• Counts and remembers parts of stories
• Draws people and understands colors and directions
• Uses words like “same” and “different” and enjoys pretend play

Age 5:

• Counts to 20 and names some letters
• Draws people with more body parts and writes some letters
• Pays attention for short periods and understands time concepts like morning and night

Kindergarteners (5 – 6 years):

• Gets better at counting (up to 100) and writing letters
• Follows simple rules and instructions
• Plays games and learns new things at school

Elementary Schoolers (6 – 8 years):

• Reads and writes more and learns about math
• Asks questions and learns about the world
• Becomes more independent and can focus on tasks for longer

I hope you find it helpful to track your child’s cognitive development with the information provided above. Now, let’s talk about something important.

Every child grows at their own speed, and that’s totally okay. But sometimes, there are things we can help them with.

Let’s chat about common issues in how kids think and learn, and what we can do about them.

Signs of Cognitive Developmental Delays in Children

So, I hope you track your child’s cognitive development, but let me tell you about general concerns that you should know about. If you found early it would be best to address it.

The major issue here is cognitive developmental delays, which refer to when a child’s thinking and learning abilities are slower or different than expected for their age.

Here are some signs parents can look out for:

Delayed Milestones

If your child is taking much longer than expected to sit up, crawl, walk, or talk, it might be a sign of a cognitive developmental delay.

These are important milestones in a child’s growth, and significant delays could indicate underlying issues that need attention.

Speech and Language Challenges

Difficulty speaking, understanding, or using language appropriately for their age could be a red flag.

Pay attention if your child struggles to communicate, express themselves, or understand what others are saying, as it might indicate a cognitive developmental delay.

Short Attention Span

If your child finds it hard to stay focused or interested in activities for a while, it could be a sign to keep an eye on.

If your child seems easily distracted, has difficulty following instructions, or gets bored quickly, it could be a sign of cognitive developmental delays.

Social and Emotional Issues

The child struggles to understand how to act with others, make friends, or handle feelings, which might suggest they need extra support with their thinking skills.

Look for signs like having trouble playing with other kids, expressing feelings in the right way, or understanding how to behave in different situations.

Trouble Learning

If your child struggles with learning new skills, understanding concepts, or remembering information, it might be a sign of cognitive developmental delays.

Keep an eye out for difficulties in school, trouble grasping basic concepts, or consistent challenges in learning and remembering new things.

Solutions for Cognitive Development Delays in Children

We all know that every parent wants to see their child as smart and genius. But things are not always on our hands! Isn’t it?

Sometimes, we don’t get what we want, but we can try to fix it as best we can. Let me tell you some effective solutions that help you address the issues.

Early Intervention Services:

When you notice your child having trouble with learning or development, seeking early intervention services can make a big difference.

These services are designed for kids from birth to age three. They provide specialized help and therapies that fit your child’s needs.

So you can minimize the impact of delays, improve your child’s life, and give them the best chance to grow and learn to their fullest.

Try Therapies

Consider various therapeutic interventions recommended by developmental-behavioral specialists. These may include:

• Speech-Language Therapy: Helps children with speech and language difficulties.
• Occupational Therapy: Addresses fine motor skills, sensory processing, and self-help issues.
• Behavioral Therapy: Helps children overcome unwanted behaviors.
• Early Childhood Special Education: Provides specialized education for children with cognitive delays.

Play-Based Learning

Play-based learning is like magic for your child’s brain. It helps them learn all sorts of things, like how to get along with others, figure things out, and use their hands and bodies in different ways.

According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, play-based learning helps children develop essential cognitive skills, such as problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking.
Source: The role of cognitive and applied executive function skills…

I believe you understand that it’s also connected to physical development.

So, next time you’re hanging out with your little one, try some fun activities that’ll secretly boost their brainpower! We made many activities for that, you can get here.

Use Visual Cues

When it comes to teaching your child new things, sometimes words aren’t enough. That’s where pictures and symbols come in handy!

By showing your child pictures or using simple symbols, you can help them understand what to do in a fun and easy way.

So, help your child understand what to do by using pictures or symbols. Visual schedules and routines can make daily activities easier to follow and less stressful.

Be Their Advocate

Stay actively involved in your child’s development and speak up for their needs.

Take guidance from early intervention specialists, therapists, and educators to understand the best strategies for supporting your child’s cognitive development.

Also, keep trying addresses your child’s unique strengths and challenges.

Conclusion

In closing, knowing about how kids develop thinking skills early on is really important for parents.

If you notice any signs that your child might be struggling, like trouble with speech or understanding, don’t worry!

There are lots of ways to help, like therapy and playing fun games together. Just by being involved and speaking up for your child’s needs, you can make a big difference in helping them grow and learn.

With a little support and love, every child can reach their full potential!

I hope this detailed guide 📑 on cognitive development in early childhood of kids was informative and beneficial for you to understand the topic better to help your kids with cognitive development for a better future. 😁