What does normal cognitive development mean?
Normal cognitive development is the developing of the thinking and learning parts of the brain. Check this site.
http://allpsych.com/psychology101/development.html
Normal cognitive development refers to the typical growth and progression of cognitive abilities in individuals as they age. It involves the development of various cognitive processes, such as attention, memory, language, problem-solving, and reasoning.
To understand what normal cognitive development means, you can follow these steps:
1. Define cognitive development: Cognitive development refers to the process of acquiring knowledge, understanding, and thinking skills that enable individuals to perceive, process, and respond to the world around them.
2. Identify key cognitive abilities: Recognize the fundamental cognitive abilities that typically develop in a sequential and age-related manner. These include attention, memory, language, executive functions (e.g., planning, decision-making), and perceptual skills.
3. Understand age-related milestones: Study the age-related milestones or cognitive benchmarks that researchers and experts have identified for different stages of development. For example, infants learn to recognize faces and objects, toddlers develop basic language skills, and children start to reason logically.
4. Observe typical progression: Monitor how cognitive abilities acquire greater complexity and efficiency over time. For instance, children initially struggle with attention span, but as they grow, their ability to sustain attention and shift focus improves.
5. Consider individual differences: Keep in mind that there can be individual variations in the rate and extent of cognitive development. While there are generally accepted norms, deviations from the average trajectory are common, and these differences should be considered within a range of typical development.
By understanding these aspects, you can discern what normal cognitive development means and identify when someone's cognitive abilities are within the typical range for their age. Remember that if you have specific concerns about cognitive development, it's always best to consult with professionals such as psychologists or pediatricians.