By Rabia GÜRER GÜRKAN, Senior Child Development Specialist

The first two years of life represent a period of explosive brain development. During this time, babies are not only learning how to move, eat, and communicate—they are also developing the fundamental mental processes that shape how they think, solve problems, remember, and interact with the world. This mental growth is known as cognitive development, and it lays the foundation for everything that follows: learning, reasoning, decision-making, and creativity.

 This article is grounded in up-to-date research from top global institutions and is designed to help parents, educators, and digital readers worldwide support the mental growth of infants in culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate ways.

Section 1: What Is Cognitive Development?

Cognitive development refers to how babies:

Perceive and make sense of the world

Remember people, events, and objects

Understand cause and effect

Develop attention, reasoning, and problem-solving skills

Form mental representations of things they’ve experienced

According to Jean Piaget, a leading developmental psychologist, the 0–2 age range falls under the Sensorimotor Stage, where children learn through direct sensory experiences and motor actions. They move from reflexes to intentional behavior and ultimately develop object permanence—the understanding that things still exist even when out of sight.

Section 2: Key Cognitive Milestones by Age

These general milestones are drawn from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2023), UNICEF Early Moments Matter (2022), and the Harvard Center on the Developing Child (2022).

0–3 Months

Follows objects with eyes

Recognizes familiar voices and faces

Begins to anticipate routines (e.g., feeding)

4–6 Months

Explores hands and objects visually

Responds to changes in the environment

Repeats actions that cause interesting results

7–9 Months

Develops object permanence

Imitates simple actions

Begins problem-solving (e.g., reaching for hidden objects)

10–12 Months

Understands cause and effect (e.g., pushing a button to make a sound)

Searches for things they see hidden

Looks at objects when named

13–18 Months

Begins symbolic play (e.g., pretending to drink from a cup)

Points to show interest or request

Recognizes self in the mirror

19–24 Months

Completes simple puzzles or tasks

Matches objects by function (e.g., spoon with bowl)

Engages in make-believe play

Note: Variations are normal, but delayed problem-solving, lack of curiosity, or poor memory recall may signal developmental concerns.

Section 3: Brain Development in the First Two Years

Between birth and age two, a child’s brain:

Triples in size

Forms over 1 million neural connections per second

Undergoes myelination, which speeds up neural communication

Prunes unused connections, strengthening frequently used ones

Research from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child confirms that responsive relationships—where adults consistently engage and interact with children—are the most important factor in brain growth during this stage.

Section 4: The Role of Play in Cognitive Growth

Play is not just entertainment—it’s the primary learning mode for babies. Cognitive development is fueled by:

Exploratory Play (touching, mouthing, shaking objects)

Functional Play (using objects as intended: pushing a car, stacking cups)

Constructive Play (building with blocks)

Pretend Play (imagining roles and scenarios)

Studies (Ginsburg, 2007) show that babies who play more with caregivers have higher cognitive and language scores at age 2.

Section 5: How Parents and Caregivers Support Cognitive Development

Caregivers play a vital role through:

Responsive Interaction: talking, eye contact, smiling, naming things

Reading and Storytelling: fosters memory, attention, and imagination

Object Exploration: offering toys with different textures, sounds, weights

Routine and Repetition: builds memory and predictability

Encouraging Curiosity: letting babies explore safely and ask questions through gestures and sounds

Examples:

Narrate daily tasks: “Now we’re washing your hands.”

Ask “What’s that?” and pause to let baby respond

Offer safe items to explore: wooden spoons, fabric swatches, soft balls

Section 6: Cultural and Environmental Influences

Cognitive development is universal—but culturally influenced. For example:

In Western cultures, babies often engage with toys independently.

In collectivist cultures, babies observe and learn from group routines.

Rural environments may offer more nature-based exploration.

Urban settings may provide richer exposure to symbols and technology.

The key is ensuring rich interaction, meaningful stimulation, and responsive adults, regardless of culture.

Section 7: Red Flags and When to Seek Help

Signs of possible cognitive delay include:

Lack of interest in surroundings after 6 months

No object permanence by 12 months

Difficulty remembering routines or people

Little problem-solving or symbolic play by 24 months

Consult a pediatrician or developmental psychologist if concerns arise. Early intervention (before age 3) is strongly associated with better cognitive and academic outcomes (Zeanah et al., 2018).

Section 8: The Impact of Screens and Technology

Excessive screen time in infancy is linked to:

Delayed attention spans

Weaker executive function

Lower language and reasoning scores (AAP, 2023)

Recommendations:

Avoid screens under 18 months, except for video calls

Engage in co-viewing and discuss content if screens are used

Choose interactive, age-appropriate media only

Section 9: Supporting Bilingual Cognitive Growth

Bilingualism promotes:

Greater mental flexibility

Improved memory

Advanced problem-solving (Bialystok & Hakuta, 2010)

Support strategies:

Speak both languages consistently

Provide books and music in both languages

Encourage code-switching naturally

Section 10: Cognitive Development Activities (Month-by-Month)

0–6 Months

Mirror play

Black-and-white image cards

Simple cause-and-effect toys (rattles)

7–12 Months

Hide-and-seek games (object permanence)

Sorting cups

Pull toys

13–18 Months

Nesting blocks

Large shape sorters

Pretend phone play

19–24 Months

Simple puzzles

Pretend cooking sets

Storybooks with choices (“Point to the dog”)

Conclusion

The first two years of life represent a unique and non-repeatable window of cognitive development. During this period, the brain builds the fundamental architecture for thinking, memory, attention, and problem-solving—skills that will shape a child’s learning capacity and adaptability throughout life.

Cognitive development does not depend on expensive toys or early academic pressure, but on responsive relationships, meaningful play, rich language exposure, and an environment that encourages curiosity and exploration. Every interaction—every shared glance, spoken word, repeated routine, and playful discovery—strengthens neural connections that support lifelong learning.

By understanding developmental milestones, respecting individual differences, and providing age-appropriate stimulation, parents and caregivers can confidently support their child’s mental growth. Early awareness and timely support not only foster cognitive strength but also protect emotional wellbeing and resilience.

In nurturing cognitive development during the first two years, we are not simply helping children learn—we are helping them build the mental tools to understand the world, adapt to change, and reach their full potential.

Scientific References

American Academy of Pediatrics (2023). Screen Time and Early Development.

Bialystok, E., & Hakuta, K. (2010). Bilingualism and cognitive development. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 30, 201–225.

CDC. (2023). Developmental Milestones: Cognitive Development.

Ginsburg, K. R. (2007). The importance of play in promoting healthy child development. Pediatrics, 119(1), 182–191.

Harvard Center on the Developing Child. (2022). Brain Architecture and Early Experience.

UNICEF. (2022). Early Moments Matter for Every Child.

Zeanah, C. H. et al. (2018). Handbook of Infant Mental Health, 4th Edition.