2024/06/12 by Divyangana Rakesh, Katie A. McLaughlin, Margaret A. Sheridan +3 · 1 citation
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Child and Animal Learning Development #Early Childhood Education and Development #Language Development and Disorders
paper · doi:10.1016/j.dr.2024.101135
openalex publication_date 2024/06/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
• Cognitive stimulation is the availability of enriching environmental inputs that facilitate learning opportunities for children. • While cognitive stimulation plays an important role in children’s cognitive development, it remains a relatively understudied topic. • This review provides an overview of the role of cognitive stimulation in children’s brain and cognitive development. • We present evidence from intervention studies which demonstrates the causal role of cognitive stimulation in children’s cognitive development. • We also describe current tools to measure cognitive stimulation in the home and other settings and suggest future directions for work in this area. Early environmental experiences influence children’s cognitive and neural development. In particular, cognitive stimulation, defined as environmental inputs that engage the senses and provide learning opportunities for children, fosters acquisition of knowledge across various cognitive domains. Low levels of cognitive stimulation in early life may restrict learning opportunities, contributing to lasting consequences for neural development and later academic and occupational achievement. This review delves into the role of cognitive stimulation in neural development and related cognitive performance, available tools for measuring cognitive stimulation in various settings, and offers insights into future research directions. In addition, variability in cognitive stimulation, often linked to differences in socioeconomic status, may create disparities in children’s access to enriching experiences that provide the foundation for learning. We therefore briefly review the role of socioeconomic status in cognitive stimulation and cognitive development. We also leverage evidence from intervention studies to illustrate the importance of cognitive stimulation for children’s outcomes. Investigating the influence of cognitive stimulation on children’s brain and behavior development is crucial for developing effective intervention strategies to foster the healthy development of all children and unlocking their full potential.