The best thing you can do to learn about cognitive development is to watch it happening! Spend 20 minutes observing a school-age child or youth in each of the age groups in the table below if each age group is a part of your program. Write your observations that describe cognitive development. How is the school-age child showing what they know? How is the child challenging herself? What do you learn from spending time observing children at different stages?

1. What cognitive developmental milestones do you see?

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

2. What can the child do independently? What does the child need help with?

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

3. What are you doing to support cognitive development?

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