1. Cognitive Development in Infants &
Toddlers
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2. Learning Objectives
• Identify the role responsive caregiving plays in Cognitive
development
• Support the development of problem solving skills
• Identify the role imitation and make believe play have in
contributing to cognitive development
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3. An Infant’s and Toddler’s Job
• Make sense of the world
• Learn to communicate fully
• Discover and develop all bodily powers
• Understand how everything works
• Deeply connect with people

4. Goals
Age Curriculum
Infants Exploring Everything
Toddlers Mastering Movement

7. Cognitive Development
Jean Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development
Age Developmental Stage
Birth – 2 Years Sensorimotor
2-7 Years Preoperational
• Large blocks of free-play time
• Provide real world experiences
• Plan open-ended activities
• Ask open-ended questions

8. Sensorimotor
• Taste
• Smell
• Hearing
• Vision
• Touch
• Proprioceptive
• Vestibular

9. Sensory Classroom
• Sand/Water Table or activities everyday
• Art – paint, clay, foam
• Heavy work
• Gross motor
• Small work
• Outdoors everyday
• Cooking

11. Supporting Development
• Daily Routine
• Environment
• Interactions

12. Daily Routines/Schedules
• Consistent and predictable
• Routines, not schedules
• Meet individual needs
• Blocks of child choice play
• Flexible
• Limit transitions

13. Infant Daily Routine
• Unique needs
• Individualize
• Many opportunities for movement
• Open ended play
• The Outdoors are important

14. Toddler/Twos Daily Routine
• Opportunities for movement
• Group activities should be no longer than 5
minutes.
• Allow children time to fully experience
activities
• Transition signals (a song, a chime)
• Consistent order of events

15. Infant Environment
• Create a ‘YES’ environment
• Sight and sound supervision
• Adult seating
• Consider all 5 senses
• Multiple places to be – that feel
different when you are there

16. Environments
12-24 Months
• Loosely organized centers
• Sensory
• Art
• Music
• Dramatic play
• Large motor
• Variety of accessible materials
• Reasonable quantities
• Small spaces/quiet places
• Labels with photos

17. Environments
24-36 Months
• Clearly defined learning centers
• Music/Movement
• Art/Sensory
• Manipulatives/Math
• Language/Library
• Blocks/Cars
• Labels with photos and words
• Small spaces
• Cozy corners

18. Interactions
• Let them say “no”
• Set clear expectations
• Be honest
• Give realistic choices
• Provide attention and affection
• Allow space to explore

20. Let them do it!

21. Conclusion
• Q&A
• Best Practices
• Action Plan