Final answer:
Babies gradually learn to use movement as a cue to understand living things, developing this ability as part of their cognitive milestones. Object permanence is expected around 8 months of age, and by 12 months, they may understand more complex movements associated with living beings as their motor development and cognitive abilities mature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Babies use movement to understand and distinguish living things from non-living objects at varying stages of their first months and years. Babies display cognitive milestones that include language and communication skills starting from birth, where they recognize their mother's voice and show preference for faces that move synchronously with language. Babies are expected to reach the milestone of object permanence, which includes the use and interpretation of movement, by around 8 months old. Motor development continues to help in cognitive development with abilities like crawling and walking demonstrating an increasing awareness of the environment and living creatures within it.
However, recognizing movement as a cue for living things happens gradually, as motor development and cognitive abilities are refined through experiences and growth. By 12 months, infants may start to associate more complex movements with living beings, particularly as they engage in mimicking actions and respond to simple commands. Thus, movement as a cue for understanding living creatures is embedded within a set of developing skills that align with their burgeoning cognitive milestones.