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5.5 Cognitive Milestones

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. Figure 5.4 shows a list of common cognitive skills and abilities for children in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC, 2022).

Figure 5.4 Infant and Toddler Cognitive Milestones.

Typical Age

What Most Children Do by This Age

0–6 months

  • watch you as you move
  • look at a toy for several seconds
  • open mouth when breast or bottle present, if hungry
  • look at hands with interest
  • put things in mouth to explore them
  • reach to grab a toy they want
  • close lips to show they don’t want more food

6–12 months

  • look for objects when dropped out of sight
  • bang two things together
  • put something in a container, like a block in a cup
  • look for things they see you hide, like a toy under a blanket

1–2 years

  • try to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada,” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog
  • look at a familiar object when you name it
  • follow directions given with both a gesture and words
  • point to ask for something or to get help
  • copy chores, like sweeping with a broom
  • play with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car
  • hold something in one hand while using the other hand
  • try to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy
  • play with more than one toy at the same time

2–3 years

  • use things to pretend play
  • demonstrate simple problem-solving skills
  • follow two-step instructions
  • know at least one color
  • draw a circle when you show them how
  • avoid touching hot objects when warned

Licenses and Attributions for Cognitive Milestones

“Cognitive Milestones” by Christina Belli is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Figure 5.4. Developmental Milestones, 2022 by the CDC is in the public domain.

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License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Understanding Human Development: Prenatal Through Adolescence Copyright © by Terese Jones; Christina Belli; and Esmeralda Janeth Julyan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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