North Carolina Early Learning and Development Progressions: Birth to Five

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

Subdomain: Social Connections

Goal: Children identify and demonstrate acceptance of similarities and differences between themselves and others

Skill Progression: Identify and demonstrate acceptance of similarities and differences

Age: 8-10 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 8-10 Months.

Demonstrates separation distress, resistance to strangers

Situations for Observation of Skill

Observe the child’s reactions to strangers, including those from other races.

Elicitation Strategy

No elicitation needed.

Behavior Observed

The child shows distress when strangers want to interact or hold him. If the stranger is of another race, the child may stare longer before showing distress.

Routines-based Intervention (Embedded Instruction)

Explain to parents that stranger anxiety is normal. It demonstrates that the infant knows whom he can trust (parents) and who is an unknown entity. This is a good sign, as it signals attachment to the parent and a hesitancy toward strangers.

 North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 2015

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