Problem solving and cognition is about the ways in which children learn new things and solve problems. Many children vary in their learning styles and how they express their approaches to learning. It includes how children explore their environment to figure things out, whether by looking at the world around them, manipulating different objects, or dropping something to watch it fall.
The ability to pay attention, think creatively, and solve problems are all important aspects of children’s approaches to learning that develop during the early childhood period. This domain also includes foundational skills like counting and recognizing letters and numbers.
Here’s some examples of what most children are expected to do at ages 3, 4 and 5 within this developmental domain.
3 year old:
- draws a circle, when you show them how
4 year old:
- names a few colors of items
- tells what comes next in a well-known story
- draws a person with three or more body parts
5 year old:
- uses words about time, like “yesterday” “tomorrow” “morning” or “night”
- pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities. For example, during
- story time or making arts and crafts (screen time does not count)
- writes some letters in her name
There are also some key things to look for in each domain that can assist in detecting delays in development that may require additional support, or a developmental screening and evaluation.
Definition
Strategies
Developmental Milestones
Resources
Detecting Delays
Who to Contact
Screening/Monitoring