The best thing you can do to learn about cognitive development is to watch it happening! Spend 20 minutes observing a preschooler in each of the age groups in the table below. Try to choose children who are a full year apart in age (e.g., a child who just turned 3 vs. a child who just turned 4). If you do not have any children enrolled in a specific age group, write an example of what you think you might see or what you have noticed before in this age group. Write your observations that describe cognitive development. How is the preschooler showing what he or she knows? How is the child challenging himself or herself?

1. What cognitive developmental milestones do you see?

   1. 3-year-old
       
   2. 4-year-old
       
   3. 5-year-old
       

2. What is the preschooler able to do? What does the preschooler seem almost ready to do (e.g., what still needs extra help)?

   1. 3-year-old
       
   2. 4-year-old
       
   3. 5-year-old
       

3. What could you do to support cognitive development?

   1. 3-year-old
       
   2. 4-year-old
       
   3. 5-year-old