Cognitive milestones provide guidance on what children can and should be doing by a certain age. Developmental milestones are important indicators of a child’s growth and help caregivers, early childhood educators, and healthcare providers identify any potential concerns or delays. It is important to note that milestones are often based on specific cultural and social assumptions (Ertem et al., 2019). Expected skills and behaviors may vary depending on the community or country a child resides in. Table 5.2 shows a list of common cognitive skills and abilities according to the CDC.
Table 5.2. Infant and Toddler Cognitive Milestones
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Typical Age
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What Most Children Do by This Age
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0-6 months
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- Watch you as you move
- Looks at a toy for several seconds
- Opens mouth when breast or bottle present, if hungry
- Looks at hands with interest
- Puts things in mouth to explore them
- Reaches to grab a toy they wants
- Closes lips to show they don’t want more food
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6-12 months
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- Looks for objects when dropped out of sight
- Bangs two things together
- Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup
- Looks for things he sees you hide, like a toy under a blanket
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1-2 years
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- Tries to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada,” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog
- Looks at a familiar object when you name it
- Follows directions given with both a gesture and words
- Points to ask for something or to get help
- Copies chores, like sweeping with a broom
- Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car
- Holds something in one hand while using the other hand
- Tries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy
- Plays with more than one toy at the same time
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2-3 years
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- Uses things to pretend play
- Shows simple problem-solving skills
- Follows two-step instructions
- Knows at least one color
- Draws a circle, when you show them how
- Avoids touching hot objects when warned
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Developmental Milestones, 2022 by the CDC is in the public domain.
“Cognitive Milestones” by Christina Belli is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
