While the physical development of infants is widely studied, relatively little is known as of 2011 about cognitive and memory development. The developmental process will differ from child to child, but there are age-appropriate markers that you will notice in most children. Even at such a young age, knowledge of the development process is imperative in assuring that your infant is, and continues to be, mentally healthy.
Cognitive Development
The cognitive development of a child refers to the way she thinks, develops language and gains knowledge. Throughout childhood, children go through different stages of cognitive development. During infancy, this process is characterized by learning to communicate wants and needs, responding to smiling faces, showing interest in light and movement and discovery of body parts. Healthy development of cognition in infancy and early childhood paves the way for an easier adaptation to learning in school-age children.
Memory Development
The process of memory development in children, like cognitive development, begins at birth. Proper development of short-term and long-term memory during infancy carries on into later childhood. A study on the rapid development of short-term memory in infants, led by Shannon Ross-Sheehy and published in 2003 in the journal "Child Development," showed that while infants 6 months old and younger could only store one image at a time in their short-term memory, by 10 months of age, they could store as many as adults typically can.
Theories
A number of theories on cognitive and memory development in infancy inform opinion on the subject as of 2011. Psychologist Jean Piaget, for example, theorized that all children have a common pattern of cognitive development. In infancy, according to Piaget, a child goes through the sensorimotor stage of development, which is a primitive intelligence composed of looking, listening, sucking and grasping. Another theory relating to the development of cognition in children is Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model, which says that children of any age develop in response to all aspects of their environment.
Future Implications
Parents and other caregivers are integral in facilitating an infant’s healthy cognitive development by providing stimuli for the child to focus on and by responding positively to communication. By doing this and understanding when your child should reach cognitive milestones, it is easier to spot developmental abnormalities, which can be indication of future issues. Children who grow up in environments that do not meet their developmental needs are at risk for having developmental delays and difficulty learning.
References
- Virginia Cooperative Extension; Understanding Growth and Development Patterns; Novella J. Ruffin, Ph.D.; May 1, 2009
- "Child Development"; The Development of Visual Short-Term Memory Capacity in Infants; Shannon Ross-Sheehy, et al.; 2003
- "The Developing Child"; Helen Bee; 2000
- "International Encyclopedia of Education"; Ecological Models of Human Development; Urie Bronfenbrenner; 1994
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Child Development and Public Health; Oct. 6, 2008
