Childhood Map

Discover the amazing things 5-year-olds are learning — from climbing and jumping to friendships, feelings, and first words on a page. Each skill comes with fun activities you can try together.

Physical & Motor 8 › Sensory 8 › Executive 7 › Cognitive 6 › Language 5 › Communication 5 › Emotional 5 › Social 6 › Self-Care 7 › Literacy 4 › Math 5 › Creative & Artistic 5 › World & Science 5 ›
by Robert Pankowecki
Cognitive & Intellectual Development

Thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, and concept formation abilities that underpin academic learning and understanding of the world.

Sources (7)
  • CDC/AAP Milestones
  • ASQ-3 (Problem Solving)
  • Piaget (Preoperational Stage)
  • Montessori (Mathematics, Cultural)
  • HighScope
  • Gardner (Logical-Mathematical, Spatial Intelligence)
  • Teaching Strategies GOLD (Cognitive Domain)
6 Subdomains
Problem-Solving & Reasoning › Symbolic & Representational Thinking › Classification & Concept Development › Memory & Recall › Attention & Focus › Curiosity & Approaches to Learning ›
Problem-Solving & Reasoning

Using logic, trial-and-error, and creative thinking to overcome challenges and figure things out.

Examples & Achievements

  • Figures out how to reach a toy that is out of reach (uses stool, asks for help)
  • Solves a simple maze on paper
  • Tries different block arrangements to make a structure stable
  • Explains why something happened ("the tower fell because it was too tall")
  • Suggests a solution to a social problem ("we can take turns")

How to Measure

  • Completes a simple paper maze with no more than 2 wrong turns
  • Provides a logical explanation for a cause-and-effect scenario
  • ASQ-3 Problem Solving section score
Sources (4)
  • ASQ-3
  • Piaget
  • HighScope
  • CDC/AAP

Childhood Map › Cognitive & Intellectual Development

Problem-Solving & Reasoning

Using logic, trial-and-error, and creative thinking to overcome challenges and figure things out.

Examples & Achievements

How to Measure

Sources