Knowledge and problem-solving are aspects of cognitive development that help children think and understand the world around them. Young infants (birth to 9 months) have a tendency to attach to their caregivers and does not reflect only physical needs. Even if the caregiver cannot meet significant physical conditions, such as feeding, the child will cling to the existing caregiver for their security. Bergin & Bergin, 2018 stated that behaviors such as separation anxiety, greetings at reunions, and a tendency to seek comfort from a specific caregiver are all signs of infant attachment. These individual differences are thought to indicate how secure the attachment relationship is.
Mobile infants (8-18 months) explore by using multiple senses at the same time. As he grows, touching objects with his hands leads to abstract thinking. Combining touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell in a game experience helps develop cognitive skills. Learning (2020) stated that young children use all their senses to explore things and store them in memory. Additionally, when children have sensory experiences, they keep the physical experience in sensory memory. They are the basis of all the skills of reading, writing, and solving problems that children will have in school. When children encounter new situations, they can draw physical and mental memories of those experiences.
Through relationships and play with peers, toddlers (age 16-36 months) start to form correlation that add to their social, emotional, and intellectual development and identity. Muentener et al. (2018) stated that early childhood programs help children develop self-esteem and self-worth. Children’s language, physical, psychological and social abilities are most remarkable in early childhood. Young children’s physical health, personal and cultural identity, emotional security, and the development of their abilities depend on their feelings about how different they are from others, their sense of uniqueness, and what they call their personal identity.
References
Bergin, C. C., & Bergin, D. A. (2018). Child and adolescent development in your classroom, chronological approach. Cengage Learning.
Learning, L. (2020). Cognitive development in infants and toddlers.Lifespan Development.
Muentener, P., Herrig, E., & Schulz, L. (2018). The efficiency of infants’ exploratory play is related to longer-term cognitive development. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 635.