Peek-A-Boo
Young children are great explorers From birth to age five, children learn an astonishing amount about how the world works. They learn how to speak and understand complex language, how objects that disappear from view can still exist, and how people feel about events in their lives. They are, as several researchers point out, among […]
Can Distinguish between Two vs. Three Objects (9-12 Months)
By 7 months, infants can tell the difference between different numbers of objects and match the number of sounds they hear with the number of objects they see. In one experiment, infants heard either two drumbeats or three drumbeats and then were shown pictures of two objects and three objects. The infants preferred to look […]
Take a Break with Books
Cereal is on the floor, the laundry is piled high, and your toddler comes to you with her favorite book and exclaims, “Read bear book!” Your instinct is to tell her, “Not now, Honey.” But then you stop and realize the chores can wait. After all, you want to encourage her interest in reading, and […]
Explores Objects in Many Different Ways (Shaking, Banging, Throwing, Dropping) (8-16 Months)
As they approach their first birthday, babies begin experimenting with everything they find: dropping, rolling, shaking, throwing, submerging, or waving objects. Although their behavior may resemble random play, babies make important discoveries about how the world works when they hurl their cereal bowls, empty out wastebaskets, or rummage through the contents of open drawers. References: Shelov, […]
Attempts to Use Objects “Correctly” (Using a Phone, Drinking from a Cup, etc.) (8-15 Months)
Between 8 and 12 months of age, babies become increasingly conscious that items have names and particular functions associated with them. Instead of chewing on or gazing at a toy telephone as they did in earlier months, they will now dial numbers and place the phone against an ear. They mimic adult behavior by attempting […]
Memory Improves (8-12 Months)
At around 8 months, there is a change in the way that infants remember. Before, they could recognize objects and people that they had seen before, but now they can begin to “recall” them on their own. Starting around 8 months, infants not only recognize familiar things but also notice and have an emotional reaction […]
Acquires the Notion of Object Permanence (That a Hidden Object Still Exists Even If One Can’t See It) (7-12 Months)
Before 8 months, a baby will think that an object has disappeared if it is covered or hidden from view. For example, if a special toy is covered with a cloth, an infant at 7 months will likely lose interest and look away. The concept that objects exist even when they can’t be seen is […]
Can Perform Simple Addition and Subtraction Exercises (5-10 Months)
Several studies have shown that infants understand some basic concepts about numbers. By around 5 months, infants show surprise when addition or subtraction rules are violated. For example, when babies see an object added to or subtracted from other objects hidden behind a screen, they will stare longer at the objects if an incorrect number […]
Cognitive and Learning: Overview (6-12 Months)
Between six and twelve months, babies eagerly explore the world around them. When they’re not playing peek-a-boo, they will grab anything they can reach and bang it, drop it, and put it in their mouths. All of this exploration helps them discover that objects still exist even if they are out of sight, an important […]