Understanding & Thinking Skills

(figuring things out, planning ahead, paying attention, memory)

Right from birth, children are aware of their surroundings and want to explore them.  As your child plays and interacts with the people and objects around him, he learns about his body, his home, and the world around him.

Below are some of the typical developmental milestones for “cognitive skills” (thinking and understanding) for school aged children up to 7 years old.  After the milestones, you can find some “red flags” that might indicate a concern.

Between the ages of 5-7 years, your child will:

• Learn the fundamentals of reading, writing, and basic math
• Focus on only one part of a situation.  For example, she may believe that a tall, narrow bottle of soda contains more soda than a short, wide bottle because one is taller than the other.
• Be able to follow 2-3 step directions (e.g. go to the kitchen, look in the cupboard by the stove, and get me a trash bag) 
• Know her full name, age, and address
• Be able to answer who, what, when, where, and why questions

Red Flags for Cognitive Development (school-aged)

If you have some of the following concerns, you may want to ask for help from your child’s teacher. Your teacher may recommend that you seek further help from your doctor or another health professional such as a psychologist, speech-language pathologist, or an occupational therapist.

• Your child does not seem to know basic concepts, such as colours, shapes, or letters and numbers
• Your child is very frustrated by school tasks and assignments
• Your child cannot follow the rules of simple games or assignments
• Your child does not seem to be able to do his homework
• Your child has trouble staying focused on tasks at home or at school

If you have concerns about your child at any age, please feel free to contact us to speak to a professional. You can also make a referral to our centre at anytime.