Intellectual development is best defined as a child’s ability to think about and understand his world. Early experiences lay the foundation for future intellectual and other areas of development. The way in which a child takes in and processes information, relates to caregivers, and experiences the world impacts all areas of development.

Intellectual Development in Infants
Play is the main way children learn and develop. Play skills and developmental abilities evolve as infants become increasingly aware of their bodies, other people, and objects in their environment. This development occurs through relationships. Research in the field of early childhood development even shows a strong link between early interactions and future academic success.

In the first few months of life, infants learn about their world mainly through their senses and interactions with caregivers. For example, they orient to sights and sounds, exploring and making sense of their bodies. As motor skills emerge, infants begin to take a more active interest in objects in their environment. Touching, feeling, and tasting are all part of the discovery process. Infants begin to learn cause and effect. They find that shaking a rattle makes a sound or pushing a button activates a toy. They are learning that they can impact their world.

Intellectual Development in Toddlers and Preschoolers
Object permanence soon emerges. This eventually enables toddlers to cope with separation from parents. Language develops as infants grow into toddlers and their world expands. Symbolic comprehension and pretend play skills emerge. Children begin to act out their experiences, such as feeding a doll or driving a car.

In the preschool years, children expand their understanding of pre-academic skills. They learn to identify colors, shapes, numbers, and letters. They also begin to demonstrate phonemic awareness. Some children may even begin to read familiar sight words as they reach age five. Preschoolers also develop more elaborate symbolic and cooperative play. For example, peers work together to act out a theme such as playing house, with each player having a defined role.

Other Types of Development
Intellectual development is just one component in a child’s development. Other areas include motor, communication, adaptive, and social-emotional abilities. As young children learn new skills, these skills become integrated. For example, a child learning to take steps is also learning how to solve problems, use new words, become independent, and develop balance and coordination. To understand how an infant or young child thinks, we have to look at the progression of these developmental milestones. Each child learns at his or her own rate. Caregivers can foster this growth through loving, playful, and nurturing interactions.

Related Articles:
Toolkit: Pre-Academic Skills
How Play Promotes Your Child’s Development

Links & Resources:

The Power of Play
http://www.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/ThePowerofPlay.pdf?docID=161&AddInterest=1153
Zero to Three’s brochure on how children learn through play, also available in Spanish

Everyday Ways to Support Your Baby’s and Toddler’s Early Learning
http://www.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/early_learning_handout.pdf?docID=3081&AddInterest=1153
Zero to Three’s handout on supporting babies’ and toddlers’ early learning, also available in Spanish