Cognitive development means how a child learns to think and reason.

From ages 6-12, kids learn to think in concrete ways. This means they understand things they can see and touch. They can:

• Add, subtract and divide
• Put things in order (like sorting or alphabetizing)
• Understand simple changes (like 5 pennies = 1 nickel)

These are called concrete operations because kids usually need to see or work with real objects to understand the ideas.

As kids become teenagers, they start developing more advanced thinking skills, including:

• Abstract thinking: Thinking about ideas or things they can’t see
• Reasoning: Creating new ideas or asking deeper questions
• Seeing different points of view: Understanding other opinions or comparing ideas
• Thinking about thinking: Understanding how their own thinking works

These are called formal operations. They help teens make better decisions and understand complex ideas.

In early adolescence, teens start thinking in more complex ways. This often shows up in how they make choices at home and school.

Common signs of growing thinking skills include:

• Starting to use logical thinking in schoolwork
• Questioning rules or what adults say
• Beginning to share their own opinions about:
  • Which sports they like best
  • Which groups of friends they want to be a part of
  • What clothes or looks they think are cool
  • What family rules they think should be changed

During middle adolescence, teens start to think more deeply and ask bigger questions about life, the future and themselves.

Common signs of this stage include:

• Asking more questions and thinking more carefully about things
• Starting to think about what is right and wrong (creating their own values)
• Wondering about who they are and what makes them unique
• Thinking about the future and what they want to do
• Making their own plans and setting goals
• Beginning to think about the long term (not just today or tomorrow)
• Using this new thinking to help make choices and build relationships

In late adolescence, teens start thinking about bigger ideas and less about themselves. They also make more decisions about their future.

Common signs of this stage include:

• Thinking more about big topics like justice, history, politics and love for their country
• Having strong, idealistic opinions about certain subjects
• Sometimes arguing or having a hard time accepting opinions that are different from theirs
• Starting to think seriously about career choices
• Thinking about their future role as an adult in society

To help teens think better and grow their minds, try these tips:

• Talk with teens about different topics, problems and news stories
• Encourage them to share their ideas and thoughts with you
• Help teens learn to think on their own and make their own ideas
• Support them in setting goals for themselves
• Help them imagine different possibilities for their future
• Praise them when they make good decisions
• Help them learn from mistakes by thinking about what they could do differently next time