Cognitive Development

Cognitive development encompasses mental abilities such as language, attention, problem solving, reasoning, creativity, memory, etc. This huge area of development involves much more than could possibly be put into a simple blog. Here are a few milestones for each age range:


By 3 Weeks Old:

• distinguishes between voice of familiar adult and a stranger 

1 to 4 Months Old:

• fixates on an object held 8 to 15 inches away from face 
• pays more attention to faces than objects
• sucks on anything and everything that touches lips (this is how they experiment with one of their reflexes
• begin to track objects with eyes 
• cries for needs to be met 
• does not see themselves as separate from objects or others until about 3 months old 

4 to 6 Months Old:

• examines objects more closely (does more than merely gaze at objects) 
• distinguishes between face of familiar adult and stranger 
• begins to touch, shake, hit and mouth objects 
• plays with own body such as hands and feet 
• holds bottle with some help 

6 to 9 Months Old:

•  concept of object permanence (understanding that objects exist even if they cannot be seen - this is what causes separation anxiety) begins 
• finds object hidden under cloth, in adult hand, etc 
• visually follows path of object that falls out of view 
• begin to understand that they can cry to call a caregiver to them (they no longer simply cry to have needs met) 
• holds own bottle 
• drinks from cup with help

9 to 12 Months Old:

• more intentional about goals (i.e. crawls across the room for forbidden object, passing up many other interesting objects on the way) 
• shows anticipation of certain events (i.e. cries when caregiver puts on coat) 
• eats semi-solid foods 
• finger feeds self 

12 to 18 Months Old:

• experiments with new ways to use familiar objects 
• experiments with cause and effect (this is why they throw their spoon or cup on the floor from the highchair 8 million times during a meal!) 
• follows a one-step direction 
• points to a picture in a book that represents a familiar object 
• imitates new gestures 
• places objects in a container and dumps it out (repetitive)
• pulls off socks and/or shoes 
• brings spoon to mouth and gets food off
• can point to at least one body part when asked 
• drinks from cup with some spilling 
• cooperates with hand washing 

18 to 24 Months Old:

• start to think before they take action 
• can apply what they know about objects to solve problems with less trial-and-error 
• actively explores everything! 
• deferred imitation (watching another's behavior and imitating or acting it out later) begins 
• understand that symbols represent real objects 
• indicates the absence of a familiar person 
• engages in pretend play with objects 
• drinks from cup (no longer uses bottle)
• washes own hands 
• points to four body parts when asked 

2 to 3 Years Old:

• groups items by category 
• compares objects 
• begins to understand math concepts of full, more, less, smaller, empty, and largest 
• distinguishes between one and many 
• begins to understand more space concepts such as toward, up, down, top, apart, next to, behind, in front of, etc. 
• asks inquisitive questions, including why and when questions  
• refers to self by name
• places large puzzle pieces in correct slots