Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Cognitive Development (CD)

Subdomain: Construction of Knowledge: Thinking and Reasoning

Goal: Children demonstrate the ability to think about their own thinking: reasoning, taking perspectives, and making decisions

Skill Progression: Taking perspectives

Age: 33-36 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 33-36 Months.

Watch as the child builds with blocks, puts together a challenging puzzle, tries to operate a complex cause-and-effect toy, or works on any challenging task.

No elicitation needed.

Trial-and-error problem solving demonstrates the child’s ability to change perspectives. If that doesn’t work, asking for help shows the child someone else may have the “right” perspective or approach.

At this age children are moving beyond sensory discovery into logical discovery. They will apply what they know about the characteristics of objects to understand how to solve a problem. Encourage early childhood educators and parents to let children work on solving problems for themselves before they jump in to help. If what the child tries first does not work or the child asks for help, the adult can say, “Try another way.” This suggests to the child that she has the ability to do it. She just needs to persist and be flexible.