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: 30-33 Months

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During playtime have a variety of shape blocks, measuring cups (without long handles) or stacking cups, and a shape puzzle, trucks, small people and farm animals in a bag or two.

Place animals at different distances from the child. Say, “The cow that is far away from you wants to come cross the bridge.” Or ask, “Where is the big daddy sheep?”

The child attempts to imitate the adult’s bridge across the “pond,” but may not be successful.

Encourage early childhood educators and parents to be play partners with the child with blocks and other items. They can then suggest more complex play ideas and model problem solving for the child. Adults can also use location terms to increase the child’s vocabulary for spatial terms.