Developmental Trajectories: Cognitive and Social Behaviors

A child repeats actions for pleasurable experiences, uses their hands and mouth to explore objects, searches with their eyes for sound, bangs objects on the table, and integrates information from multiple sensory systems.

From what age range are these cognitive behaviors developmentally appropriate?

Birth-6 months

A child coos, squeals, smiles, laughs at loud, expresses discomfort by crying, and communicates simple emotions through facial expressions.

From what age range are these social behaviors developmentally appropriate?

Birth-6 months

A child:

Responds to their own name

Recognizes words and family members’ names

Responds with appropriate gestures

Listens selectively

Imitates simple gestures

Looks at picture book

Begins to generalize from past experiences

Acts with intention on toys

Takes objects out of container

From what age range are these cognitive behaviors developmentally appropriate?

6-12 months

A child:

Shows special dependence on mother

May show stranger anxiety

Lifts arms to be picked up Plays contentedly when parents are in room

Interacts briefly with other infants

Plays give and take

Responds playfully to mirror (laughs or makes faces)

From what age range are these social behaviors developmentally appropriate?

6-12 months

A child:

Acts on objects using a variety of schemas

Imitates model

Symbolic play with real props (e.g., pretends to drink with a cup)

Understands how objects work

Understands the functions of objects

Uses trial-and-error in problem-solving

Recognizes names of various body parts

From what age range are these cognitive behaviors developmentally appropriate?

12-18 months

A child:

Moves away from parent

Shares toys with parent

Responds to the facial expressions of others

From what age range are these social behaviors developmentally appropriate?

12-18 months

A child:

Links multiple steps together

Has inanimate object perform an action

Begins to use nonrealistic objects in pretend play

Continues to use objects according to functional purpose

Object permanence is completely developed

From what age range are these cognitive behaviors developmentally appropriate?

18-24 months

A child:

Expresses affection

Shows a wide variety of emotions: fear, anger, sympathy, and joy

Can feel frustrated

Enjoys solitary play, such as coloring, building

Engages in parallel play

Laughs when someone does something silly

From what age range are these social behaviors developmentally appropriate?

18-24 months

A child:

Combines actions into entire play scenario (e.g., feeding doll, then dressing in nightwear, then putting to bed)

Shows interest in wearing costumes; creates entire scripts of imaginative play

Matches pictures

Sorts shapes and colors

Plays house

From what age range are these cognitive behaviors developmentally appropriate?

24-36 months

A child:

Engages in cooperative play: takes turns at times

Shows interest in peers, enjoys having companions

Begins cooperative play and play in small groups

Shy with strangers, especially adults

Engages in dialogue of few words

Can be possessive of loved ones

From what age range are these social behaviors developmentally appropriate?

24-36 months

A child:

Uses imaginary objects in play

Makes dolls and action figures carry out roles and interact with other toys

Categorizes and sorts objects

Shows a sense of humor

From what age range are these cognitive behaviors developmentally appropriate?

3-4 years

A child:

Attempts challenging activities

Prefers play with other children; group play replaces parallel play

Follows turn-taking in discourse and is aware of social aspects of conversation

Shows interest in being a friend

Prefers same-sex playmates

From what age range are these social behaviors developmentally appropriate?

3-4 years

A child:

Understands the rules to a game

Remembers rules with a few reminders

Makes up stories that involve role-playing with other children

Participates in goal-oriented, cooperative play with two or three other children

Participates in planning a play activity

Begins abstract problem-solving

From what age range are these cognitive behaviors developmentally appropriate?

4-5 years

A child:

Enjoys clowning

Sings whole songs

Role-plays based on parents’ roles

From what age range are these social behaviors developmentally appropriate?

4-5 years

A child:

Reasons through simple problems

Bases play more on real life than on imaginary world

Participates in organized games

Uses complex scripts in play

Demonstrates deferred imitation

Sorts objects in different ways

Copies elaborate block structures

From what age range are these cognitive behaviors developmentally appropriate?

5-6 years

A child:

Participates in groups of two to four that play in organized, complex games

Has friends (same sex)

Enjoys singing and dancing; reflects meaning of words and music

Demonstrates understanding of others’ feelings

From what age range are these social behaviors developmentally appropriate?

5-6 years

A child:

Has abstract reasoning skills

Performs mental operations without need to try physically

Demonstrates flexible sddproblem-solving

Solves complex problems

From what age range are these cognitive behaviors developmentally appropriate?

6-10 years

A child:

Is cooperative, less egocentric

Tries to please others

Has a best friend

Is part of cliques

Is less impulsive, can regulate behavior

Has competitive relationships

From what age range are these social behaviors developmentally appropriate?

6-10 years