Cognitive Development

1 Cognitive Development: An Introduction Amazing brain development happens during the preschool years. When you support the developing brain, you are building a strong foundation for future school and life success. This lesson will introduce you to important concepts about how the brain develops between the ages of three and five. It will end with suggestions about what you can do to help make sure all children meet their potential. 2 Cognitive Development: Preschool Children usually follow predictable patterns in how they grow and learn. This lesson will help you understand typical cognitive development, or how children develop thinking skills during the preschool years. You will learn about developmental milestones and what to do if you are concerned about a child’s development. 3 Supporting Cognitive Development: Interactions Your relationship with the children in your care is one of your strongest teaching tools. This lesson will focus on interacting with children to support play, exploration, and learning. You will discover how teachable moments and communication can make the most of every routine. 4 Supporting Cognitive Development: Environments and Materials The way in which you set up your learning environment is critical for promoting children’s cognitive development in preschool. This lesson will focus on identifying well-arranged environments and appropriate materials that promote discovery, exploration, and problem-solving and support all aspects of preschooler’s cognitive development. It will also provide valuable information about supporting children with diverse needs and backgrounds through play. 5 Supporting Cognitive Development: Experiences and Activities It is important to provide children with a variety of age-appropriate experiences. This lesson describes how you can engage children in experiences and activities that promote cognitive development and address the individual needs of all learners.