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

Subdomain: Mathematical Thinking and Expression

Goal: Children identify and use common shapes and concepts about position during play and other activities.

Skill Progression: Spatial understanding

Age: 21-24 Months

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During play time have a large tray with sand, cornstarch, or other similar material. Alternatively use pudding!

After play with the blocks take out the tray with the grain or pudding on it. Take turns making lines and shapes for the other one to imitate. The adult tries horizontal lines (a road), vertical lines (pole), and circles. The adult should imitate what the child does on his turn, too.

Using a pointed first finger, the child will imitate the strokes the adult makes.

Encourage parents to let the child experiment with different materials, such as “pudding paint” to practice using her fingers, hands, and fists in different ways. Learning about directionality and how lines can move different ways is an important foundation for reading and writing.