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: 18-21 Months

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Observe during daily routines and play activities.

No elicitation needed.

The child persists at an activity, then stops and moves to another. Some children will persist until the task is complete, others will quit after the first or second step. The standard the child sets indicates attention, motivation, and persistence.

Help early childhood educators and parents become good observers of the child’s standards of success. Standards can be too high when the child gets overly frustrated when success is not easily reached. Standards can be too low when the child becomes frustrated too early in the task and abandons it. Help adults support the child to “try one more time” by modeling or offering a minimal assist to extend his chance of success.