Infants

Cognition

• Uses sounds, gestures, and movements to impact the environment and interactions.
• Imitating others’ actions, gestures, and sounds.
• Explores objects in many different ways.
• Observes other’s activities and may attempt to imitate.
• Shakes stuffed animal or object in same way as rattle to hear noise.
• Demonstrates object permanence, understanding people or things exist even when out of view.
• Uses object as intended.
• Reaches for a toy or object that has rolled away.
• Seeks assistant from caregiver to solve a problem by using vocalizations or gestures.
• Engages in sustained gazing or tracking of object with eyes.
• Plays with objects and toys with different sizes and shapes.
• Nests smaller objects inside larger one.
• Turns head toward sounds or voices.
• Expresses sense of wonder about the natural world.
• Shows affection.
• Enjoys rhythms and songs.
• Enjoys looking at children’s books of dance, music, theater, and visual arts.
• Enjoys repetition.
• Gazes at pictures, photographs, and mirror images.

Communication

• Responds to familiar words in home language.
• Responds to sounds in the environment.
• Recognizes familiar voice by turning towards speaker.
• Responds to “yes” & “no”.
• Responds appropriately to simple requests such as “wave bye-bye”.
• Uses consistent sound combinations to indicate specific object or person.
• Babbles using many sounds.
• Turns to look at familiar object when it is named.
• Follows single-step directions.
• Vocalizes to get attention.
• Uses a variety of inflections and sounds to express intent.
• Enjoys finger play.
• Pays attention to what the speaker is looking at or pointing to.
• Responds when name is called.
• Participates in a one-on-one conversation by making sounds.
• Makes eye contact when vocalizing.
• Pays attention to pictures in books.
• Knows how to turn pages in a book.
• Focuses attention on simple picture books.
• Brings book to adult to read.
• Grasps marker or crayon with his/her fist.

Learning Approach

• Shows interest in people by changing behavior.
• Uses all senses to explore the environment.
• Shows likes and dislikes for activities, experiences, and interaction.
• Examines a toy, rattle, or face for a brief period of time.
• Repeats simple motions or activities.
• Tries different ways of doing a task.
• Inspects own hands feet.
• Mouths, shakes, bangs, drops, or throws objects.
• Use items differently and creatively.
• Play games with primary caregiver that involves repetition.
• Applies knowledge to new situations.

Physical Health

• Lifts head and chest while on tummy.
• Supports upper body with arms while lying on tummy.
• Gains control of arm and leg movements.
• Rolls over.
• Sits with support.
• Rocks back and forth on hands and knees.
• Stands independently.
• Pulls self up to stand, holding onto something or someone.
• Walking holding onto furniture.
• Grasps caregivers fingers.
• Plays with own feet/toes and discovers hands.
• Mimics hand clapping or a good-bye wave.
• Transfers small objects from hand to hand.
• Makes marks on paper with whole movement while writing/using drawing implements.
• Child explores environment with body.
• Demonstrates increasing ability to self-soothe.
• Regulates the speed and intensity with which he/she eats.
• Explores food with fingers.

Social Development

• Quiets when comforted, especially by familiar adults, most of the time.
• Initiates and maintains interactions with caregivers.
• Distinguishes between familiar and unfamiliar adults.
• Smiles spontaneously at other children.
• Shows interest in other children by watching them and tracking their behavior.
• Reaches out to touch other children or grabs their toys.
• Begins to participate in simple parallel play with other children.
• Reacts when someone is crying or upset.
• Notices and explores hands.
• Points or moves towards desired objects.
• Repeats a motion or noise to replicate a result.
• Makes choices about what toys to play with.
• Participates in routine activities.