Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Language Development and Communication (LDC)

Subdomain: Learning to Communicate

Goal: Children understand communications from others.

Skill Progression: Understand communication from others

Age: 27-30 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 27-30 Months.

As above, observe the child during doll play with an adult. Have props for a big doll and a small doll, including wash cloths, bottles, bowls and spoons, and a few pieces of cereal, etc.

The adult says, “The babies are hungry. Find something to feed them and give them lunch.” Or “Find something to wash the babies and clean them up.” (Function of object and two-step direction).

The child identifies objects by function (“what do you wash with?”, “eat with?” etc.)

Encourage early childhood educators and parents to talk about object functions during daily activities. For example, “This coat will keep you warm.” “Let’s clean your teeth with your toothbrush.” Adults can also explain functions of objects as the child observes them being used. “The wheels go round and make the car go.” The child is learning global characteristics of amount, such as more, many, all, all gone. Adults should use these terms and begin to count with one-to-one correspondence to three, so the child begins to learn discrete amounts.