Development Of Child's Cognitive Abilities

 Cognitive development is a process which includes different areas of mental growth. It includes perception, memory, thinking, language, attention, and problem-solving. For the proper understanding of children's cognitive abilities development, it is necessary to highlight the fundamental factors, influences, and milestones that form this critical areas of children's development. They are as follows:

1. Infancy and Toddlership (0-3 years):

During this stage, a child's cognitive abilities develop very quickly. The infants begin to recognize faces, voices, objects, and sounds. They begin to demonstrate basic cognitive skills such as perception and attention. As they grow up from infancy to toddlerhood, the children begin to know and recognize their immediate environment and demonstrate hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills. 

2. Early Childhood (4-6 years):

The early childhood developmental stage is characterized by growth in cognitive abilities development. The children begin to develop skills such as language skills. They learn to communiate very well through verbal and non-verbal means.  They begin to learn the 26 English Language Alphabets (or any language as the case may be), two-letter words and to recite things like A is for Apple, B is for Ball, C is Carrot, D is for Dog, E is for Egg, and others. They begin to learn basic mathematical concepts such as counting, from number 1 too 100 (numeracy) and sorting. They learn addition, subtraction, division and multiplication by using counting objects which they see and touch physically. If their teacher tells them to add 3 to 2, he will provide physical counting materials to them. They will pick three of them and keep on one side, and pick out another two and keep together with the first three seeds. They will then begin to add them together to arrive as 5, which is the right answer. If it is subtraction, division and multiplication, they will use the same counting seeds to work it out correctly through their teachers' supervision. They are generally taught in the most simplified form because of their tender age. They also begin to show understanding of cause-and-effect relationships and demonstrate improved problem-solving skills.

3. Middle Childhood (7-10 years):

During middle childhood stage, the child's cognitive abilities development become greater and refined. They develop more complex language skills, including reading and writing. They learn words containing more letters than in the previous stages. They begin to spell and write complex words and sentences. They are taught how to write brief composition and also write when the teachers are dictating. They demonstrate improved mathematical skills, including basic arithmetical operations. Besides, they begin to show an understanding of more complex concepts, such is primary geographical studies (shape of the Earth, the Earth is spherical like egg and not round like a ball, four cardinal points (East, West, North and South), rain gauge,  and names of the continents of the world) etc.

4. Late Childhood and Adolescence (11-18 years):

At this stage of child's development, his/ her cognitive abilities continue to expand and mature. They develop more advanced language skills: they learn the Eight Parts of Speech and 13 Figures of Speech more often than they were taught in their previous stage of development. They learn more sentence buildings (syntax) and more improved compositions with more words. They learn critical thinking and reasoning and analytical skills. They can now differentiate between intuitive and and deductive reasonings. They begin to demonstrate improved problem-solving skills, including the ability for abstract and logical reasonings. Additionally, the children begin to show an understanding of complex concepts, such as ideals, values, morals, etiquettes, ethics, and civic responsibilities.

There are factors which influence child's cognitive development. They are genetic, environment, and socioeconomic factors. Genetical factors play a key role in shaping a child's cognitive development. Environmental factors such as access to quality and inclusive education opportunity and healthcare delivery facilities also greatly impact cognitive development of a child. Socioeconomic status, especially factors such as poverty and parental literacy levels, also influence child's cognitive development. For example, children of educated parents are in a better position to develop cognitively more and faster than the children of illiterate parents. Illiterate parents cannot correct their children when they commit grammatical blunders because they do not know English Language. Illiterate parents do not know the difference between photosynthesis and osmosis. They do not have knowledge of western education. Their illiteracy impairs their children's cognitive abilities development drastically. 

The following factors promote cognitive development of a child: 

1. Ability to acquire early childhood education: When a child receives access to a high-quality early childhood education, it significantly impacts on his/ her cognitive development.

2. Parent-child interaction: Effective parent-child interaction, including reading, singing, and playing can go a long way to enhancing the cognitive development of a child.

3. Nutrition and healthcare: The availability of adequate and balanced diets and access to healthcare delivery facilities can significantly increase cognitive development of a child. 

4. Physical exercises: Frequent physical exercises can stimulate cognitive development in a child and promote learning skills as well.

In summary, children's cognitive abilities development is a complex process which revolves round the orbit of genetic, environmental and socioeconomic factors. By providing children with access to early childhood inclusive education, positive parent-child interaction, adequate balanced diets and healthcare facilities, and opportunity for physical exercises, we can promote healthy cognitive development and throw our weight behind the children's future success in life.

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