Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Cognitive Development (CD)

Subdomain: Construction of Knowledge: Thinking and Reasoning

Goal: Children demonstrate the ability to think about their own thinking: reasoning, taking perspectives, and making decisions

Skill Progression: Making decisions

Age: 10-12 Months

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Have a variety of familiar and unfamiliar toys for the child to explore. Observe the child’s choices and attention on each one he selects to explore.

No elicitation needed.

The child will recognize the difference between familiar and unfamiliar toys. Many children will choose to go to the novel toys to see what they are. Other children choose familiar toys, as those feel comfortable. Children make decisions about which toys to choose and how long to play with each.

Help early childhood educators and parents understand the importance of changing out the child’s toys and materials once in a while. They don’t need new toys, they just need to explore different things and renew acquaintances with old things now and then. New things can be potato chip cans to roll and drop things in, spoons and pans, coasters to arrange, magazines to tear, etc.