A child’s growth during each phases of life is a vital concern for every parent. Though each child’s growth will be different from one another. As children’s growth is also affected by their genetics and people around them. It is very necessary for parents to understand their child’s growth and development during each stage of childhood. During preschool children learn and develop a lot. There are many developments during this stage of childhood. And cognitive development in preschoolers is one of the most important developmental milestone of childhood. In this article I am going to share 10 ways to improve cognitive development in your preschoolers. The best ways you can support your child’s growth.
What is cognitive development in preschoolers?
Cognitive development means the development of knowledge among the children. The skill of thinking, memorizing, learning, expressing and imagining refer to cognitive development in children. As a child grows, the ability to learn things around them increases. They start learning the reasons and try to solve their problems. Though cognitive skills start growing right from the birth of a child. But their skills can be observed very clearly during preschool. This is the age when a child start asking lots of why to every things. They start thinking at more higher level. Children start learning about the consequences of their actions like if they throw the glass jar it will break but if they throw the ball it will not break.
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Cognitive Development Skills
Our brain works on some sets of functions and cognitive skills consists of those sets of functions. The main cognitive development skills are :-
-> Learning
The learning ability of preschoolers keep increasing each day. They are capable of learning words and use them in their regular conversations.
-> Problem Solving
Problem solving is another important milestone of cognitive development skills. Children try to solve problems as they keep doing experiments with their toys or games they are engaged with.
-> Memory
A child starts memorizing a lot as he grows up. Starting with his name, the place he lives, the school he goes and the daily routine he follows.
-> Attention
Attention is staying alert for a particular period of time. A child cannot stay attentive for a longer period of time though it can be developed by practicing. Attention increases by age and growth of a child.
10 Ways To Improve Cognitive Development In Preschoolers
Reading
Reading to your child from an early age is very important and it has lot of benefits for your child’s growth and development. Children who are exposed to reading more they have good communication skills, have very good vocabulary and it also increases child’s focus and attention. So make it a routine to read few pages in a day for your child. It will then become a habit for children to read, once they learn reading by themselves.
Singing Nursery Rhymes
Nursery rhymes are not only for entertaining children, this is the first step to introduce language to them. It is the foundation of reading and learning skills for kids. They act during nursery rhymes, trying to pronounce the words and thinking about the rhymes have an overall development in kids. Pacey had explained how important is nursery rhymes to children during their early years.
Problem Solving Games
Life without problem doesn’t exists. And solving problem is an important aspect of life. Problem solving is must learn skill for kids. Problem solving games teaches kids to have a positive attitude towards life. They learn to be more confident during crucial times of life. So introduce them problem solving games and let them do independently.
Narrating A Story / Incident
Narrating story is as important as listening story. Therefore always encourage your child to narrate any story or ask them to describe any incident they had experienced. Narrating a story or incident instills the power of good communication skill in the kids. This enhance their imagination skill and also make learning easier.
Playing Creative Games
Creativity is very essential in a child’s development. Children loves to play most of the time so use their playing time to develop creativity among them. Encourage kids to play creative games that are fun filled too. Check the list of fun filled creative activities for kids shared by FirstCry.
Imaginary Play
Children love to play imaginary plays. They imagine a lot and loves to act according to those imaginations. And this is quite healthy game for them. It boosts social, physical and emotional development in them. It is one of the best way to learn to express their emotions, as they are imitating a character in their play. Sometimes children make their own stories and explore new ideas for their play. This fosters confidence and creativity among children.
Free Play
Playing is an important tool for cognitive development in preschoolers as children spends most of the time in playing. Free play is the time when a child has the freedom to play according to him. They are engaged according to their wish. Every child is different, some chooses to draw during their free play time while some want to solve puzzles and some want to go out. So it very necessary to give children some free play time so that they can spend the time exploring their own ideas and passion.
Communication
A positive communication with your child is very essential to build positive relationships in life. Children feel more secured and confident when they have a positive talk wit their parents. It builds self-esteem in them. They learn to communicate with others too that help them to build strong relationships with others in life. When parents communicate and listen to their children, they feel valued and worthy in this world. It boosts their confident.
Puzzle Solving
Solving puzzles is great help for cognitive development in preschoolers. It is help to develop fine motor skills in children. It also helps them to deal with their emotions and stress. They learn that trying again and again can bring them success at the end.
Outside Play
Outdoor play is very beneficial for children. The unorganized and unstructured way of playing in nature make child self-dependent. They learn to understand the importance of being self aware of our actions. They become more capable to face the hurdles coming to their way.
Comments
I never realized that all the things we love to do with our kids are actually all the things that help them learn and grow. It does make sense, though. I hope every parent is doing all of these things with their kids.
We did a lot of this with my boys when they were preschool aged. Especially reading and playing games. We’ve always read a lot with the kids and still do!
Thank you so much for sharing this guide! It’s so important to give our children every advantage they can have.
This is such a precious article! I have a two and half year old daughter- I´ve read for her since she was a baby and now she spends hours “reading” by herself. We also don´t have TV and I never show cartoons so she is very much into books, stories. And yes, she loves stories being told and singing nursery rhymes.
I love this post! My kids are grown, but I have an almost 3-year-old granddaughter. These are such great ideas to use!
Love this. Reading and imaginative play are so important for developing minds!
This is such a wonderful post, that will be a big help to any parents. Parents must know this and consider this stuff for the benefit of their preschooler’s development! Awesome share, thanks!
This is a great article! I used to teach pre-school when I had an in home daycare business, and it is good to know I was doing it right!
Great tips for parents. My little cousin is in preschool right now. I will pass this on to my aunt. Thank you for sharing!
These are good things to work on with preschool age kids. It is nice for parents to work on these things with preschoolers.
These are all wonderful ways to encourage cognitive development. They are also fantastic ways to bond.
Yyyeeessss! I prefer outside play since it combines all the other ways of developing their cognition as little ones.