“Cognitive development” is an important part of overall child development. It refers to the acquisition of skills such as thinking, perception, learning, and understanding. It includes, among other brain functions: attention, memory, language, problem-solving, judgment, and logical reasoning. Cognitive development begins in early childhood and continues into adulthood. It is a complex process influenced by biological, cultural, and social factors.
Brain and nerve development of an embryo begins in the third week of pregnancy. From this point on, a multitude of nerve cells form. Even in the womb, the embryo absorbs information from inside and outside, such as the mother’s heartbeat, music, and the parents’ language. By birth, approximately 100 billion nerve cells (neurons) have developed. Complex behavioral structures are not yet observed in newborns, as they are primarily reflex-driven. However, brain development progresses rapidly during the first few years.
By two years of age, a large portion of the nerve fibers of the spinal cord, hindbrain, and cerebellum have completed their thickening. Most children can now coordinate complex movements. From the age of three until about ten, children have twice as many synapses – connections between nerve cells – as adults. This gives them a very high capacity for adaptation and learning. From adolescence, synapses decrease significantly, and only frequently used connections are retained. This means that the cognitive abilities acquired by the beginning of adolescence have a major impact on the structure and performance of the brain.
The human memory initially develops relatively slowly. However, at around four years of age, memory development goes into high gear. The long-term memory begins to form at about five years of age. In addition, children slowly acquire the ability for logical thinking, arithmetic, and, based on experience, social behavior. The maturation of the cerebral cortex leads to the further development of language and spatial reasoning. From about twelve years of age, there are hardly any differences in thinking ability compared to adults.
Piaget defined four stages of cognitive development that cover different age ranges in children. In the first stage, the sensorimotor phase (0-2 years), children develop their sensory perceptions and motor skills. In the preoperational phase (2-7 years), they learn to use symbols and develop their imagination. In the concrete operational phase (7-12 years), they develop logical thinking and the ability to classify and seriate, meaning to put objects in a specific order. Finally, adolescents reach abstract and hypothetical thinking in the formal operational phase (from 11/12 years). Piaget’s theory states that, although development can vary individually, it generally proceeds in this order. There are also experts who criticize his theory.
Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development
Piaget defined four stages of cognitive development that cover different age ranges in children. In the first stage, the sensorimotor phase (0-2 years), children develop their sensory perceptions and motor skills. In the preoperational phase (2-7 years), they learn to use symbols and develop their imagination. In the concrete operational phase (7-12 years), they develop logical thinking and the ability to classify and seriate, meaning to put objects in a specific order. Finally, adolescents reach abstract and hypothetical thinking in the formal operational phase (from 11/12 years). Piaget’s theory states that, although development can vary individually, it generally proceeds in this order. There are also experts who criticize his theory.
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Children first need to learn to concentrate on a specific task for several minutes. Adults can easily support them in this, ideally through joint activities. For example, you can bake together with your children. They will then realize that several consecutive steps ultimately lead to a (delicious) result. What they can learn from this includes discipline, attention, and patience. Spending time with loved ones also associates positive feelings with the activity.
A sense of achievement shows the child: it’s worth concentrating on something, and learning can be fun. Every learning success triggers the release of happiness hormones in the human brain. To promote concentration, it is therefore important to praise children when they make an effort and try hard. Because that alone is already a success, even if not every task was solved flawlessly.
Just as important as motivating children to learn is also not to overwhelm them, as this quickly leads to stress, pressure, and frustration. It is important for adults to set realistic expectations for children’s cognitive performance. After a certain attention span, they need a break, preferably outdoors in the fresh air. This, by the way, applies equally to adults.
Good to know
Adults often overestimate the amount of time children can fully concentrate on something at a stretch. The maximum average concentration span is:
15 minutes for 5–7-year-olds,
20 minutes for 7–10-year-olds,
20-25 minutes for 10–12-year-olds,
30 minutes for 12–14-year-olds.
Another important factor in learning concentration skills is the role model provided by caregivers. If a child is to dedicate themselves fully to a task, adults should do the same. However, if parents interrupt a shared game or reading aloud by, for example, being busy with their smartphone, then children also don’t learn to do only one thing at a time. It is also important to tolerate a certain boredom that can arise during some quiet games. A good mix of quiet and more active learning games has proven most effective in promoting attention development.
Activities that can easily improve concentration include:
During learning, various disruptive factors can impair concentration and effectiveness. Some of the most common reasons for distraction and difficulty concentrating are:
Not only sufficient sleep, exercise, and regular brain jogging, but also nutrition play a crucial role in brain performance and cognitive abilities. The brain already consumes up to a quarter of the body’s total energy at rest. Certain nutrients have direct effects on how our brain functions, including memory, concentration, and overall mental performance.
Another factor that strongly influences brain performance is the amount of fluid we consume daily. Experts recommend a fluid intake of about one liter per day for children and 1.5 liters for adolescents and adults. Additional fluid enters the body through food. Water, unsweetened teas, and fruit spritzers without added sugar are best for quenching thirst.
A lifestyle with a healthy diet, sufficient sleep, adequate exercise, and a mix of quiet and invigorating activities are crucial for good cognitive development. The brain should be challenged not only in children but also in adulthood by learning new information and gaining experience. Only then can it continue to form connections and maintain existing neural pathways. In general, it is important to choose activities that match the child’s interests and developmental stage to increase motivation and engagement. Regular breaks and a calm learning environment also contribute to improving concentration.
