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

Subdomain: Learning to Communicate

Goal: Children describe familiar people, places, things, and events.

Skill Progression: Use of narrative skills to describe

Age: 48-54 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 48-54 Months.

Observe the child during art and dramatic play when given a theme to develop.

Provide a variety of art materials to manipulate and build structures and props that tell a story. Have children meet in small groups to share their creations, combine their ideas, and plan a dramatic play scenario. Let each group develop their own play scenario negotiating roles, actions, dialogue, etc.

The child uses materials to independently create stories, and also works with others to develop dramatic play narratives.

Children have many different ways to communicate including their words, their art and other constructions. Adults need to provide as many venues as possible for these alternative means of communication. Provide dramatic play opportunities at home and at school to help children translate narrative thinking into actions and dialogue. Adults can encourage children to listen to each other’s ideas and build on the best ideas to construct their narratives.