What are Cognitive Developmental Milestones

Occupational Therapy
Written By Kimberley Arnett-DeSimone

Cognitive developmental milestones refer to a child's mental growth and capacity to understand, reason, and learn about the world, and this starts from day one. Newborns take in information from their sensory systems and they are constantly learning about their own bodies, their families and their environments. While development varies from child to child, the following milestones are a way for parents to see what they can expect as their little one grows and develops. 

0-1 month: 

  • Show an interest in their surroundings

  • Register high-contrast patterns i.e., black and white

  • Startle to loud sounds (Moro Reflex) 

  • See stationary objects 8 to 12 inches from the face

  • Track moving objects with their eyes briefly

2-3 months: 

  • Start to recognize familiar faces

  • Rooting Reflex

  • Turns head to follow the movement

  • Watches mouth when spoken to face-to face

  • Begins copying facial expressions

  • See colors in the human spectrum

  • Recognizes bottle or breast

4-5 months:

  • React to familiar sounds

  • Recognize familiar faces

  • Smiles at familiar faces

  • Turns head to look for a fallen object (object permanence)

  • Smiles at reflection in mirror

  • Explores objects with their mouths and hands

6-7 months:

  • Has full color vision

  • Tries to get a toy or object out of reach

  • Can visually track 180 degrees side to side when seated

8-9 months:

  • Can understand cause and effect

  • Develop object permanence, realizing that objects continue to exist even when they can't see them. 

  • Plays peek-a-boo

  • Looks at pictures as they are named

  • Pats at or kisses mirror

  • Engages in simple problem-solving: Removes cloth to find a covered object

10-11 months:

  • Visually tracks a rolling ball down the incline

  • Imitates simple actions

  • Watches thrown objects such as a ball or rattle

1-2 years: 

  • Places a circle in a circular opening

  • Recognizes self in mirror and photos

  • Identifies 3-4 body parts on own body

  • Places square in square opening

  • Turns picture right side up if placed upside down

  • Matches pictures to 3D objects

  • Completes 3-piece form board or puzzle

  • Points to 6 pictures of familiar people or objects

  • Recognizes outline of a familiar shape

  • Plays with nesting blocks and stacking rings accurately

  • Matches colored objects

  • Can point to Big vs Small

  • Points to 6 body parts in the picture

  • Sorts shapes

  • Understands “Me” and “You”

  • Engage in Domestic play

  • Respond to one-step instructions

3-4 years:

  • Rapid language development

  • Asks “Why”

  • Understand the time concept: past vs present

  • Can attend for 5 to 10 minutes (stories)

  • Can match textures

  • Can identify an object when only part of it is showing (Visual Closure Perception)

  • Counts to 5 aloud

  • Names at least 4 colors

  • Completes 4 to 5-piece puzzles

  • Can assemble a body puzzle (head, torso, arms, legs, hands, feet)

  • Follows 2 to 3-step instructions

  • Can play a simple game 

Preschoolers continue to expand their vocabulary, engage in imaginative play, and build their problem-solving skills. Providing them with opportunities to explore and experience multi-sensory play in a loving and attentive environment that encourages thinking, caring and problem solving can steer them in the right directions toward a confident and life long love for learning.

Kimberley Arnett-DeSimone, a career pediatric occupational therapist in Huntersville, North Carolina, authored this post.

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