Cognitive Milestones
Birth – 6 months
- 1 month: looks at mobiles and people’s faces; becomes quiet when picked up; cuddles when held
- 2 months: eyes follow moving person or object; stays awake for longer periods; beginning to smile
- 3 months: looks at own hands; feels objects with hands and mouth; turns eyes or head towards sounds; enjoys playful interaction; smiles at familiar people
- 4 months: focuses eyes towards sounds; looks at toy held in hands; smiles at self in mirror; laughs
- 5 months: finds a toy that is partially hidden under a cloth; makes sounds to get social attention; notices strangers
- 6 months: reaches for a toy out of reach; likes to be with people
6-12 months
- finds objects after watching them disappear
- looks at pictures in books
- begins to use objects as tools after being shown how
- handles toys in new ways: pulling, turning, poking, tearing
- enjoys cause and effect toys: light up and musical toys
likes to play peekaboo, pat-a-cake
12-18 months
- enjoy looking at picture books
- identify self in mirror
- know some body parts
- follow some simple directions
- starting to match and sort by shape and color
- starting to match animal sounds to pictures
18-14 months
- actively explore cabinets and drawers
- put things in and away
- name six body parts
- sort objects by shape or color
- enjoy simple make-believe play
- participate in turn-taking
2-3 years
- engage in pretend and imaginative play
- match shapes
- understand the concept of “I”
- play side by side with peers
- sort colors
- identify body parts and their functions
- complete 3- to 4-piece puzzles
3-5 years
- complete 3- to-10 piece interlocking puzzles
- name some colors and shapes
- count to ten
- sort by shape and color
- match pictures
- understand the concept of “two”
- aware of basic safety: caution with stairs, sharp objects, and hot objects