1. © 2007 HighReach Learning®
Inc.
All Rights Reserved. 579003
Training Module
Cognitive Development
of Infants and Toddlers
PURPOSE
To understand the role of caregivers in facilitating
the process of the cognitive development of their
infants and toddlers.
DEFINITION
The term cognitive development is defined as
the intellectual growth that begins at birth and
continues through adulthood (Gleitman, 1981).
Children begin learning from the moment they
are born by looking, listening, and interacting with
people and objects (Gleitman, 1981). Cognitive
development is the development of the learning
structures and systems in the brain.To further
understand the concept of cognitive development,
let’s take a look at a specific example.
EXAMPLE
Miss Barbie always talks and sings to her infants
when she changes their diapers.The infants may
respond with a smile, but there is a deeper meaning
to the action than just a sweet smile.
The child is learning from Miss Barbie. He/she
is developing the basic understanding that
communication is based on spoken words (Mahn).
The children in Miss Barbie’s care absorb each and
every spoken word, and the way she interacts with
them on an individual or group basis directly affects
their cognitive development.
The above example clearly depicts a simple form
of cognitive development. Caregivers need to be
aware that all children develop at different rates.
The key to helping them develop successfully is
understanding their individual needs and interacting
with them as much as possible.
IMPORTANCE OF THE CAREGIVER’S
ROLE IN COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
The main thing to remember is that you can take an
active role in the children’s cognitive development
by playing with them, singing to them, planning
stimulating activities for them, reading to them, and
encouraging them to explore their environment.
Infants and toddlers are like sponges; they absorb
everything about their environment (Lally,Torres,
Phelps, 1993)!
Infants and toddlers explore their world and learn
through sensory and motor experiences (Gleitman,
1981).They learn that things have different textures,
colors, shapes, and sizes. Infants and toddlers learn to
discriminate your voice and your face from others.
Talking, reading, and singing or playing music to your
infants and toddlers will foster their cognitive growth
(Feierabend, 1996).
Talking to your infant or toddler is soothing and the
child learns from the sounds.When you talk to an
infant or toddler, hold the child or stand very close to
his/her face.The child may try to imitate your words
or facial expressions. Have conversations with older
children and listen when they try to talk back (Mahn).
Read to your infants or toddlers every day.They
are eager to hear language. Reading helps the
children learn the sounds of our language and is very
important for cognitive growth (Mahn).
Music also stimulates cognitive development in
children. Sing songs and play music for the children.
Choose music that is interesting and imaginative for
the children (Feierabend,1996).

2. © 2007 HighReach Learning®
Inc.
All Rights Reserved. 579003
EXAMPLES OF ACTIVITIES AND MATERIALS
THAT PROMOTE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
There are many different types of activities and
materials that are designed to help promote cognitive
development.The following are just a few examples.
See how many you are currently incorporating into
your program.
Infants
ü Hold a rattle in front of an infant’s face and
move it slowly from side to side.
ü Hang a mobile over the crib of a non-sitting
infant. He/she will enjoy watching it.
ü Play classical music for infants.
ü Read to infants every day. Reading helps
children develop early literacy skills (Mahn).
ü Sing and talk to infants during feeding time
and while changing diapers.
ü Give older infants a set of nesting blocks.They
will enjoy taking them apart and putting them
back together.
ü Play peek-a-boo with infants.
ü Place an unbreakable mirror in a place where
an infant can see his/her reflection.
Toddlers
ü Read to toddlers every day. Name objects in
the book and let the children point to them.
ü Hide a toy behind your back and encourage
the child to find it.
ü If the child is saying words, such as ball, expand
on them. Say,“Did you find that ball?” This may
help the child begin to use sentences (Mahn).
ü Put pictures of familiar items on the walls at
the child’s eye level. Encourage the child to
name the objects.
ü Encourage the children to stack blocks.Allow
them to knock over the tower and watch it
fall.
ü Sing songs to the children and encourage
them to sing with you.
TRY WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED!
Locate some of the materials from the activities
suggested and base them on the age group with whom
you will be working. Record what you observe and use
the information to plan activities for the group.
SUMMARY
As you begin to develop activities for your children,
keep in mind that young children of the same
chronological age often function on many different
developmental levels.You must observe each child
carefully to see how you can adapt the activity to meet
individual needs. Start with simple activities and then
move to more complex ones. Be sure to offer a variety
of materials and activities that promote cognitive
development. By providing the children with many
choices, they can participate in the ones with which
they are the most comfortable. Most important, have
fun!
REFERENCES
Feierabend, J. M. (1996, Fall). Music and movement for
infants and toddlers: Naturally wonder-full [Electronic
version]. Early Childhood Connections.
Gleitman, H. (1981). Psychology. NewYork:
W.W. Norton and Company.
Lally, R. L.,Torres, L.Y., Phelps, P. C. (1993). Caring
for infants and toddlers in groups: Necessary
considerations for emotional, social, and cognitive
development. Based on plenary presentation at ZERO
TOTHREE’s Eighth Biennial NationalTraining Institute.
Washington, D.C. Retrieved August 2, 2002, from http://
www.zerotothree.org/caring.html
Mahn, K. E. (n.d.). Building speech and language skills.
Retrieved August 2, 2002, from http://www.ambpeds.
org/speechandlanguageskills.cfm

3. © 2007 HighReach Learning®
Inc.
All Rights Reserved. 579003
Follow-up Evaluation
Cognitive Development of Infants and Toddlers
Name ______________________________________________ HRL Customer Number _______________________
Address __________________________________________________ Phone ________________________________
School Name ______________________________________________ Phone ________________________________
School Address ___________________________________________________________________________________
Who is responsible for payment? o Self oOther ______________________________________
Complete the following to the best of your ability.
1. Define the term cognitive development.
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2.Why is cognitive development important to the young child?
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3. Choose one activity from the examples on page 2 and describe how it could be used to help promote cognitive
development.
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4. Give an example of how you promote cognitive development on a daily basis.
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4. © 2007 HighReach Learning®
Inc.
All Rights Reserved. 579003
5. Practice some of the suggested activities in the training module with the children. Record your observations below.
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6. Review the curriculum you use in your class and identify two activities the children completed this month that
helped promote cognitive development. If you cannot find two in your curriculum, design two yourself.
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7. Develop your own activity that could be utilized to promote cognitive development.
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This Training Module is designed to be used in conjunction with the curriculum you are currently using in the
classroom. Prior to completing the module, explore your curriculum plans and think about how the topic of the
module fits into those plans.Throughout the coming months, consider ways in which you can apply the training
topic to a variety of classroom activities.As with children, practicing new skills on a daily basis makes a big
difference.
In order to receive credit:
1. Read the Training Module and complete the Follow-up Evaluation
2. Enclose check or money order in the amount of $18.00 (payable to HighReach Training Program)
and your completed Follow-up Evaluation.
3. Mail to:
HighReach Learning
Attn: Training Department
5275 Parkway Plaza Blvd.
Suite 100
Charlotte, NC 28217
Attention Customers: These modules have been approved as training credit in many states.
Call 1-800-729-9988 or visit our Web site at www.highreach.com to see how many hours YOU can earn!
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