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 ›
Classification & Concept Development

Sorting, grouping, comparing objects and ideas by attributes, and forming categories.

Examples & Achievements

  • Sorts objects by color, shape, or size
  • Groups animals into categories (farm, wild, pets)
  • Understands concepts of same/different
  • Orders objects from smallest to largest (seriation)
  • Knows about things used every day (money, food, tools)

How to Measure

  • Sorts a mixed set of 20 objects into 3+ categories by a single attribute
  • Orders 5 objects by size correctly
  • Identifies which object does not belong in a set and explains why
  • Piaget conservation tasks (number, length) - note most 5-year-olds do not yet conserve
Sources (4)
  • Piaget
  • Montessori
  • HighScope
  • CDC/AAP

Childhood Map › Cognitive & Intellectual Development

Classification & Concept Development

Sorting, grouping, comparing objects and ideas by attributes, and forming categories.

Examples & Achievements

How to Measure

Sources