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

Subdomain: Mathematical Thinking and Expression

Goal: Children compare, sort, group, organize and measure objects and create patterns in their everyday environment.

Skill Progression: Classifying

Age: 4-6 Months

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Observe the child and an adult playing and exploring objects during playtime. Objects with different characteristics (e.g., holes, squeezable materials, varying textures, sounds, movements, etc.) will entice the child to explore. Present a novel toy that the child has not seen before, such as an easily squeezed toy that makes an interesting sound.

No elicitation may be needed.

The infant will still mouth, but will also wave, squeeze, touch, and poke. She may observe and try to imitate the adult.

Exploring with hands and fingers replaces exploring with the mouth and tongue. Help parents understand the importance of self-discovery and exploration, not just with toys, but with everyday objects in the environment. Light switches, doors and drawers, books on shelves, bowls, and spoons all are things an infant can discover and explore. Though the child cannot yet crawl to investigate the spaces in the house, parents can provide opportunities by letting the infant play with the plastic bowls in the cupboard while working in the kitchen, etc.