Cognitive Milestones

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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