North Carolina Early Learning and Development Progressions: Birth to Five

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

Subdomain: Foundations for Writing

Goal: Children use writing and other symbols to record information and communicate for a variety of purposes.

Skill Progression: Use writing and other symbols to record information and communicate for a variety of purposes

Age: 18-21 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 18-21 Months.

Produces writing lines differently than drawing lines

Situations for Observation of Skill

Observe the child with paper and a crayon or marker.

Elicitation Strategy

Ask the child to draw you a picture, then ask him to write about it underneath the picture.

Behavior Observed

“Writing” lines are thinner and have more curved lines than “drawing” lines.

Routines-based Intervention (Embedded Instruction)

Give parents suggestions for expanding the child’s options for writing surfaces. The child will write on anything at this age, so give him space to draw. Use extra-large paper to give the child room to make many marks.

 North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 2015

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