This article discusses the assessment of language and cognitive development as reflected in preschool activities and describes the Preschool Language-Cognitive Assessment for Curriculum Entry (PLACE). Five task-skill areas associated with common preschool activities (building with blocks, completing puzzles, pounding pegs, etc) are identified. How these skills can be assessed, and the relationship of the skills to critical higher level skills in the areas of reading and mathematics are discussed briefly. The skill areas covered are size and shape discriminations; object permanence; language ability as related to mental manipulation of symbols; the concept of equivalence; and the concept of oneness. (SB)