North Carolina Early Learning and Development Progressions: Birth to Five

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

Subdomain: Learning to Communicate

Goal: Children ask and answer questions in order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood.

Skill Progression: Answers questions

Age: 12-15 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 12-15 Months.

Responds to “Where is” questions by pointing to a familiar object or person

Situations for Observation of Skill

Observe interactions during daily routines.

Elicitation Strategy

The adult asks the child, “Where is your….?” (e.g., blanky, favorite toy, etc.)

Behavior Observed

The infant looks for the object requested.

Routines-based Intervention (Embedded Instruction)

Children begin to understand that a question requires a response. Early questions can be answered with a movement of the head or a point. Encourage early childhood educators and parents to model using a head nod and head-shake to help the child learn the meaning. For example, the adult asks the child “Do you want up?” The adult picks the child up, and the child leans backward and cries (indicating “Put me down.”). The adult can say, “You don’t want up.” Say “No” (shaking head to model).

 North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 2015

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