Cognitive development refers to the ability to know and understand the world. It includes our ability to think about and remember what is happening around us.
Children’s thinking is different from the thinking of adults. Although adults have more information about the world, they also understand the world in different ways than children do. Over time, children move through distinct stages of thinking as they develop more complex ways of understanding the world.
When children are born, their brain is …
Thinking, Learning, and Language Development in Child Care
As young children grow, they learn different ways to process information from the world around them, and their thinking skills are very different at different ages. Infants are focused on exploring the world around them. Preschool-age children like to ask questions and test out ideas. School-age children think logically, but still have a hard time understanding abstract concepts such as “freedom.”
Child care providers can help young children develop thinking skills by observing carefully, providing interesting materials and problems, asking …
What Child Care Providers Can Expect in the Thinking and Language Development of 6 – 8 Year Olds
As children begin elementary school, they also show important advances in both thinking and language skills. They become better at logical thinking and problem-solving. They are motivated, active learners. School-age children begin to learn bigger words, to produce longer and more complex sentences, to manipulate language in new ways, to learn subtle exceptions to grammar rules and to understand their native tongue much better.
Child care providers in out-of-school child care programs can support the development of thinking and language …
What Child Care Providers Can Expect in Toddlers' Thinking and Language Development
Toddlers’ thinking and language skills change so quickly between 12 and 36 months. Children go from being able to say a few words to using complete sentences. During the toddler years, young children develop clear preferences for certain toys and activities, learn how to assemble and take things apart, use their imagination, and begin solving problems and testing out ideas.
Child care providers play an important role in promoting thinking and language skills in toddlers. By reading aloud, talking with …
What Child Care Providers Can Expect in Preschoolers' Thinking and Language Development
During the preschool years, children develop new thinking skills and become competent at using language to communicate. These newly developed thinking and language skills enable preschoolers to begin solving complex problems, asking and answering questions, and using their imagination to create and act out stories. Child care providers can support thinking and language development in preschoolers through conversations, reading, math and science activities, creative questions, and opportunities to pretend. The following are common milestones of thinking and language development in …
What Child Care Providers Can Expect in Infants' Thinking and Language Development
Long before they can talk, babies are developing thinking skills. As a child care provider, you probably know that most babies put objects in their mouths. But did you realize that mouthing things helps babies learn about the shape and texture of objects? Infants are constantly exploring their world, making sense of things around them, and listening to language. Child care providers can help babies practice these important thinking skills by giving them interesting objects, encouraging them to explore, asking …