Category — 1.6 Cognitive Development: How Development in Early Years Affects Development in Elementary Years

The development of basic cognitive skills in the early years¹ will lay the foundation for the development of more complex cognitive skills during the child’s elementary and middle school years. It is critical to recognize signs of cognitive and pre-academic/academic delays as early as possible.

Some children may show slight difficulties while in preschool or kindergarten related to attention, listening and following directions. These difficulties need attention; otherwise they may turn into complex problems in the later elementary grades as children engage in reading, writing and number activities. A few examples of these difficulties include the following:

• Preschool children who experience difficulty sitting for certain periods of time (for example: about 5-10 minutes) while engaged in a game or activity may find it harder to engage in and complete activities during their school years. For example:
  • While at school, a child may experience difficulties sitting in class, in the lunch room or in the auditorium during 30-45 minute periods of time.
  • Outside of school, a child may experience similar difficulties when watching a movie at home or at the theatre, while travelling in the bus or car, or become very impatient if walking down the street or while visiting a mall or a doctor’s office
• Preschool children who cannot follow directions may find it very hard to fully participate, as students, in- and out- of- school activities; for example:
  • At school a child may have difficulties following a teacher’s instructions and completing the activities in the classroom, the gym, while on a class trip, or while engaging in group games while on the playground.
  • Outside of school a child may have difficulties listening to and understanding his/her swimming coach, and/or be left out during parties because he/she cannot follow the games.
• Children who find it hard grouping objects into categories during their preschool years, will find it difficult learning to read and write, and doing number work during their school years; for example:
  • In school a child may experience difficulties telling the difference between vowels and consonants or between odd and even numbers.
  • Outside of school, a child may experience difficulties putting away his/her toys and/or clothes on shelves or drawers in ways he/she can easily find them.

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