North Carolina Early Learning and Development Progressions: Birth to Five

Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Emotional and Social Development (ESD)

Subdomain: Learning About Feelings

Goal: Children identify, manage, and express their feelings.

Skill Progression: Emotional expression

Age: 4-6 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 4-6 Months.

Demonstrates emotions by making sounds of pleasure and displeasure combined with facial expressions

Situations for Observation of Skill

Observe face-to-face play, toy play, and interactions with friends and family members.

Elicitation Strategy

Watch the infant’s reaction to interpersonal games, toys, and play routines. After a while, stop the game or remove the toy.

Behavior Observed

The child gurgles or coos, squeals or belly laughs, and/or makes specific sounds when pleased or happy.

Routines-based Intervention (Embedded Instruction)

Demonstrate sounds for the child when the child is pleased (“yum! “yuck!”” uh oh!”). This will model sounds that match the emotions the child is feeling. Respond to the emotions of the child. When the child looks away for a break, wait for him to come back to your gaze before talking.

 North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 2015

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