DOMAIN: Language Development and Communication
SUBDOMAIN: Learning to Communicate
DEVELOPMENTAL INDICATORS
Infants (Birth to 12 months):
- Respond differently to facial expressions and tones of voice.
- Pay brief attention to the same object the caregiver is looking at.
- Engage in turn-taking during social and vocal play with adults and other children (babbling, imitating facial expressions, repeating sounds from languages they hear).
Younger Toddlers (8 to 21 months):
- Establish joint attention by looking at an object, at their caregiver, and back at the object.
- Respond to and initiate dialogue with another person.
- Use movement or behavior to initiate interaction with another person.
Older Toddlers (18 to 36 months)
- Engage in short dialogues of a few turns.
- Ask questions or use nonverbal cues to initiate communication with another child or adult.
Younger Preschoolers (36 to 48 months)
- Demonstrate an understanding that people communicate in many ways (gestures, facial expressions, multiple spoken languages, sign language, augmentative communication).
- Initiate and carry on conversations, and ask questions about things that interest them.
- With prompting and support, make comments and ask questions related to the topic of discussion.
Older Preschoolers (48 to 60+ months)
- Express an understanding that people communicate in many ways (gestures, facial expressions, multiple spoken languages, sign language, and augmentative communication).
- Initiate and carry on conversations that involve multiple back and forth communications or turns between the persons involved in the conversation.
- Initiate and participate in conversations related to interests of their own or the persons they are communicating with.
- Participate in a group discussion, making comments and asking questions related to the topic.
- Show an appreciation for and can use humor appropriately.
Click here for more on Step Up to School Readiness and the SC Early Learning Standards.
