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Early EducationResources

September Step Up to School Readiness Goal

DOMAIN: Cognitive Development

SUBDOMAIN: Social Connections

DEVELOPMENTAL INDICATORS

Infants (Birth to 12 months):

  • Emerging

Younger Toddlers (8 to 21 months):

  • Compare their own physical features with those of others by looking and touching.

Older Toddlers (18 to 36 months)

  • Describe people who are similar and different based on characteristics such as age, gender, and other physical characteristics.
  • Show awareness of similarities and differences among people and families during play.

Younger Preschoolers (36 to 48 months)

  • Show acceptance of people who are different from themselves as well as people who are similar.
  • Given support and guidance, explore different cultural practices during play and planned activities.

Older Preschoolers (48 to 60+ months)

  • Show acceptance of people who are different from themselves as well as people who are similar.
  • Talk about how other children have different family members and family structures than their own (“I live with my Grandma and Shanika lives with her Mom and Dad.” “David’s dad works but my Daddy stays home and takes care of me.”)
  • Show acceptance of different cultures through exploration of varying customs and traditions, past and present (how people dress, how people speak, food, music, art, etc.).

Click here for more on Step Up to School Readiness and the SC Early Learning Standards.