COGNITIVE
The term cognitive development refers to the process of growth and change in intellectual/mental abilities such as thinking, reasoning and understanding. It includes the acquisition and consolidation of knowledge. Infants and young children draw on social-emotional, language, motor, and perceptual experiences and abilities for cognitive development. They are attuned to relationships between features of objects, actions, and the physical environment. But they are particularly attuned to people. Parents, family members, friends, teachers, and caregivers play a vital role in supporting the cognitive development of young children by providing the healthy interpersonal or social-emotional context in which cognitive development unfolds. Caring, responsive adults provide the base from which children can fully engage in behaviors and interactions that promote learning.
Birth-12 months:
- Offer your baby interesting objects to explore—fabrics of various textures, a ball of sticky masking tape, a wooden spoon and a metal one to touch and compare.
- Respond to your baby’s efforts to communicate. Use words to describe what he is experiencing: “I see you looking at that ball on the shelf. Let me get that for you.”
- Delight in your baby’s discoveries. “You found your hands! Look what they can do. You can use them to reach that red ball.”
- Provide the help your baby needs to solve problems, such as showing him how to get the lid off the container so he can reach the blocks inside. Before you jump in, give him a chance to do it herself first.
- Play disappearing and reappearing games. Play peek-a-boo. Make a simple game of hiding objects to find. This helps develop your child’s memory and teaches him about object permanence.
- Encourage your child to explore objects and toys in different ways. Touching, banging, shaking, and rolling help children learn about how things work. Talk with your child about what he is doing. “You got the truck to move by pulling the string!”
12-36 months:
- Read aloud frequently: Expose your child to books with varied vocabulary and engaging stories.
- Talk about everyday activities: Describe what you are doing and what your child is doing, using descriptive language.
- Sing songs and nursery rhymes: Repetition and rhythm help with language acquisition.
- Provide opportunities for exploration: Allow your child to explore different textures, sounds, and objects.
- Encourage pretend play: Provide toys and props that allow for imaginative play.
- Offer a variety of toys: Provide toys that encourage different types of play, such as building blocks, puzzles, and musical instruments.
- Sort and match objects: Help your child learn to sort and match objects by color, shape, and size.
- Follow simple directions: Give your child simple directions and praise them for following them.
- Encourage fine motor skills: Provide activities that help develop fine motor skills, such as stringing beads, using crayons, and playing with playdough.
- Encourage gross motor skills: Provide opportunities for your child to move around and explore their environment, such as playing outside, walking, and running.
- Limit screen time: Excessive screen time can negatively impact cognitive and social-emotional development.