Cognitive Developmental Milestones
Age 3 Age 4 Age 5
Plays make-believe with dolls, Understands the idea of Counts 10 or more things
animals, and people counting
Can draw a person with at least
Does puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces Starts to understand time 6 body parts
Understands what “two”means Remembers parts of a story Can print some letters or
numbers
Copies a circle with pencil or Understands the idea of “same”
crayon and “different” Copies a triangle and other
geometric shapes
Turns book pages one at a time Draws a person with 2 to 4 body
parts Knows about things used every
day, like money and food
Children’s cognitive well-being during their preschool years has this three major development, in terms of their
cognitive development:
During preschool, amazing changes happen in children's "thinking skills." Their memories are becoming
stronger-they often remember surprising details.
They can share their ideas in new and interesting ways. Their imaginations are becoming a primary vehicle
for play and learning.
They begin to compare, contrast, organize, analyze, and come up with more and more complex ways to
solve problems. Math and scientific thinking become more sophisticated.
TIPS:
Understanding these milestones will help you know what kinds of learning experiences to plan in your classroom.
Based on your knowledge of development, you can plan activities that are challenging but achievable for individual
children. Remember, milestones are markers that let us know a child is growing in a healthy way. These markers are
not thresholds or "tests" that a child must pass. Think about milestones when you:
Age 3 Age 4 Age 5
Plays make-believe with dolls, Understands the idea of Counts 10 or more things
animals, and people counting
Can draw a person with at least
Does puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces Starts to understand time 6 body parts
Understands what “two”means Remembers parts of a story Can print some letters or
numbers
Copies a circle with pencil or Understands the idea of “same”
crayon and “different” Copies a triangle and other
geometric shapes
Turns book pages one at a time Draws a person with 2 to 4 body
parts Knows about things used every
day, like money and food
Children’s cognitive well-being during their preschool years has this three major development, in terms of their
cognitive development:
During preschool, amazing changes happen in children's "thinking skills." Their memories are becoming
stronger-they often remember surprising details.
They can share their ideas in new and interesting ways. Their imaginations are becoming a primary vehicle
for play and learning.
They begin to compare, contrast, organize, analyze, and come up with more and more complex ways to
solve problems. Math and scientific thinking become more sophisticated.
TIPS:
Understanding these milestones will help you know what kinds of learning experiences to plan in your classroom.
Based on your knowledge of development, you can plan activities that are challenging but achievable for individual
children. Remember, milestones are markers that let us know a child is growing in a healthy way. These markers are
not thresholds or "tests" that a child must pass. Think about milestones when you:
