The best thing you can do to learn about cognitive development is to watch it happening! Spend 20 minutes observing a preschooler in each of the age groups in the table below. Try to choose children who are a full year apart in age (i.e., a child who just turned 3 and a child who just turned 4). Write your observations that describe cognitive development. How is the preschooler showing what they know? How does the child challenge themself?

3-year-old 4-year-old 5-year-old

What cognitive developmental milestones do you see?

What is the preschooler not yet able to do? What do they seem almost ready to do (i.e., what tasks require help)?

What are adults doing to support cognitive development?