North Carolina Early Learning and Development Progressions: Birth to Five

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

Subdomain: Developing a Sense of Self with Others

Goal: Children form relationships and interact positively with familiar adults who are consistent and responsive to their needs.

Skill Progression: Attachment

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List of Skills by Age

1-2 Months

Gazes into parents’ eyes; begins to recognize family members

2-4 Months

Shows physical excitement when parent comes into view

4-6 Months

Calmed by familiar adult

6-8 Months

“Woos” adult with sounds, smiles, gestures

8-10 Months

Plays near adult

10-12 Months

Explores face and body of adult

12-15 Months

Shares joint attention on an object with an adult and takes turns

15-18 Months

Shows concern toward adult’s distress

Physically and verbally shows caring to adult

18-21 Months

Constantly demands adult’s attention, especially when the adult is busy

21-24 Months

Desires to be held or sit on the adult’s lap, clingy at times

24-27 Months

Actively participates in dressing and other activities of daily living with the adult

27-30 Months

Demonstrates nurturing, caring, control in dramatic play

30-33 Months

Attachment established

33-36 Months

Attachment established

36-42 Months

Attachment established

42-48 Months

Attachment established

48-54 Months

Attachment established

54-60 Months

Attachment established

 North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 2015

©2015 by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/.