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

Subdomain: Mathematical Thinking and Expression

Goal: Children compare, sort, group, organize and measure objects and create patterns in their everyday environment.

Skill Progression: Comparing and Ordering

Age: 6-8 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 6-8 Months.

Observe the child playing with toys in a seated position as well as with small bits of food or crackers.

During play set out several small blocks (small enough for the child to pick up with one hand) with some on each side of the infant. Offer the child two small plates with one bite of a snack on one plate and two on the other. Place both in front of the child at the same time.

The infant will pick up blocks with one hand and then the other, so both hands are full. The infant will take the snack from the plate with two pieces of food first.

Children are learning to not only compare objects but amounts. They can use each hand independently and can maneuver objects to put them together. This ability to combine objects is a basis for learning numbers, object use, and sequencing. Objects like blocks are particularly good, because they can be easily combined.