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

Subdomain: Developing a Sense of Self

Goal: Children express positive feelings about themselves and confidence in what they can do.

Skill Progression: Expresses confidence in abilities and persistence toward goals

Age: 8-10 Months

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

Watch the child with a variety of different objects during the day, including cupboard doors, drawers, boxes, push buttons, and so on.

If natural opportunities do not arise, elicit by presenting objects that require use of arms and hands in different ways. A pop-up box with different mechanisms, lids to pull up and push down, and so on. Observe what the child does spontaneously with the object.

The child persists in getting into the box or putting all the blocks into the bowl.

Help early childhood educators and parents understand that mastery motivation, or persistence toward a goal, is fundamental to success. Adults should not solve all of the problems the child encounters. Let the child work at the problem and encourage him to “Keep trying! You almost got it!” Reinforce effort.