Cognitive Development in Children: From Infancy to Adolescence

Understanding how children learn, reason and grow.

Watching children learn and explore offers a window into the developing mind. Cognitive development refers to how thinking, problem solving and knowledge acquisition change over time. Researchers have proposed various theories to describe these changes and identified factors that influence a child’s cognitive growth. Here we outline major stages, highlight influential theorists and discuss ways to support healthy development.

Stages of Cognitive Development

The Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget proposed one of the most influential stage theories of cognitive development. According to Piaget, children progress through four main stages:

While Piaget’s stages provide a useful framework, research has shown that development is more gradual and variable than his theory suggests. Children may exhibit abilities from different stages simultaneously, and cultural and educational factors can influence the timing of milestones.

Social and Cultural Influences

Lev Vygotsky, a Russian psychologist, emphasised the role of social interaction and culture in cognitive development. He proposed that learning occurs in the zone of proximal development (ZPD) – the range between what a child can do independently and what they can do with guidance. According to Vygotsky, caregivers and peers provide scaffolding that helps children progress through the ZPD, internalising language, norms and problem‑solving strategies.

Vygotsky’s theory highlights the importance of language as a tool for thought. Through conversations and storytelling, children learn concepts and ways of reasoning that are specific to their culture. This perspective has influenced educational practices that focus on collaborative learning and culturally responsive teaching.

Information Processing and Core Knowledge

Another perspective views cognitive development as improvements in information processing – increases in attention, working memory, processing speed and strategy use. Children become better at focusing on relevant information, remembering steps and automating routine tasks. Core knowledge theories propose that infants are born with innate knowledge systems related to objects, numbers, agents and spatial relationships. Development then involves building on these foundational schemas.

Factors Influencing Development

Cognitive growth is shaped by a combination of biological and environmental factors:

Supporting Cognitive Development

Parents, educators and communities play a vital role in fostering healthy cognitive development. Strategies include:

Understanding the stages and influences on cognitive development helps caregivers and educators tailor their support. Each child is unique, and development unfolds at its own pace. By providing nurturing environments and opportunities to explore, we lay the foundation for lifelong learning and creativity.