Introduction
What do we mean by the phrase 'intellectual development' or 'cognitive development'? Generally speaking the word terms, cognitive and intellectual development are used interchangeably and refer to the development of parts of the brain concerned with perception, reasoning, memory, problem solving, attention and language. All areas of development progress together, but at different rates.
All of these processes can be seen in action when we watch a 2 year old working out how to get the biscuits that were put away in a biscuit tin after a shopping trip a few days ago. From watching dad put them away, to remembering where they are, to moving a chair and climbing on it, reaching and then getting a container open—all without falling off—shows the remarkable changes in brain development since birth.
So, overall cognitive development is the growth in understanding, knowledge and learning and how a person's thinking changes. Making sense of the world involves information processing and memory.
Access each of the headings here to learn more.
Attention - imitation and reinforcement play an important role in language development. Receptive speech (or understanding) comes before expressive speech (spoken words).
Perception - the interpretation of people, objects and events using information from our senses. Babies' eyesight, hearing, taste, touch, smell and understanding of their body in relation to surroundings are closely linked to the nurturing they get in their early days.
Memory - both short and long-term memory refers to the ability of the brain to store past thoughts, sensations and knowledge and to recall them.
Problem solving - the ability to come out with a strategy for sorting out a puzzle or difficulty.
Reasoning - the ability to think up ways of dealing with different situations.
