Checklist for a Child's Cognitive Development

Cognitive development measures the way children process information. It refers to the development of the mind's ability to think and reason. Milestones regarding language, memory, reasoning, thinking and problem solving are measured at various ages to determine the cognitive development of a child. As a child grows, his cognitive skills build, allowing him to learn to process complex information.

  1. Infancy

    • Average children should obtain the following cognitive development by 12 months of age. They should have sensory and thinking skills, enabling them to copy sounds and actions, respond to words and music, look for objects out of sight and crawl to get a toy. Language and social development should include trying to talk, saying a few words, showing affection, understanding simple commands and recognizing family members' names.

    Toddler

    • Cognitive skills are further developed during the toddler stage. Children should be able to understand the difference between now and later, pay attention for about three minutes, remember what happened yesterday, engage in pretend play, count to three, recognize dangerous items, such as a stove or moving car, and match circles and squares. Language development should include speaking three- to five-word sentences, naming at least one color, repeating simple rhymes and saying her first and last name.

    Ages 4 to 5

    • This age group should be able to count at least 10 objects, name at least four colors, understand the concept of time and know the use of everyday objects, such as a refrigerator and stove. Language skills include being able to recall a story, use sentences of more than five words, recite their name and address, and understand future tense.

    Early Adolescence (Ages 6 to 12)

    • Thinking and reasoning skills are further developed during early adolescence. This age group can think in concrete ways, such as being able to add, subtract, put things in alphabetical order and understand that five pennies equals a nickel. Abstract thinking, such as being able to think of possible solutions and being able to consider different points of views, is also developed in adolescent children.

    Adolescence (Ages 12 to 18)

    • The ability to think systematically about all logical relationships to a problem begins to develop at this age. Children can use logical operations in schoolwork, and they begin to question authority and form opinions based on their own personal experiences. They are able to think longterm and understand the relationship between their actions and the effect on society. They are able to process and understand complex information.

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