Infant Toddler Learning & Development Foundations

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
82
Foundation: Understanding of Personal Care Routines
8 months
At around eight months of age,
children are responsive during
the steps of personal care
routines. (CDE 2005)
For example, the child may:
• Turn head away as the infant
care teacher reaches with
a tissue to wipe the child’s
nose. (8 mos.; Meisels and
others 2003, 20)
• Kick legs in anticipation of a
diaper change and then quiet
down as the parent wipes the
child’s bottom. (CDE 2005)
• Pay attention to her hands as
the infant care teacher holds
them under running water and
helps rub them together with
soap. (CDE 2005)
Behaviors leading up to the
foundation (4 to 7 months)
During this period, the child
may:
• Anticipate being fed upon
seeing the infant care teacher
approach with a bottle.
• Hold onto the bottle while
being fed by the infant care
teacher. (4 mos.; Meisels and
others 2003, 14)
The developing ability to understand
and participate in personal care routines
18 months
At around 18 months of age, children
show awareness of familiar
personal care routines and participate
in the steps of these routines.
(CDE 2005)
For example, the child may:
• Go to the sink when the infant
care teacher says that it is time
to wash hands. (Scaled score of
10 for 17:16–18:15 mos.; Bayley
2006, 90; 12–18 mos.; Lerner
and Ciervo 2003; 12 mos.;
Coplan 1993, 2; by 24 mos.;
American Academy of Pediatrics
2004; 24 mos.; Meisels and
others 2003, 46)
• Get a tissue when the infant care
teacher says, “Please go get a
tissue. We need to wipe your
nose.” (18 mos.; Meisels and
others 2003, 36)
• Move toward the door to the
playground after seeing the
infant care teacher put his coat
on. (18 mos.; Meisels and others
2003, 38)
• Put snack dishes in the sink and
the bib in the hamper after eating.
• Have trouble settling down for a
nap until the infant care teacher
reads a story, because that is the
naptime routine. (12–18 mos.;
Parks 2004, 317)
Behaviors leading up to the
foundation (9 to 17 months)
During this period, the child may:
• Cooperate during a diaper
change by lifting her bottom.
(10.5–12 mos.; Parks 2004)
• Grab the spoon as the infant
care teacher tries to feed the
child. (12 mos.; Meisels and others
2003, 31)
• Raise arms when the infant care
teacher tries to put a dry shirt on
the child. (12 mos.; Meisels and
others 2003)
36 months
At around 36 months of age,
children initiate and follow through
with some personal care routines.
(CDE 2005)
For example, the child may:
• Go to the sink and wash hands
after seeing snacks being set
out on the table. (CDE 2005)
• Get a tissue to wipe own nose
or bring the tissue to the infant
care teacher for help when the
child feels that his nose needs
to be wiped. (CDE 2005)
• Take a wet shirt off when needing
to put on a dry one. (36
mos.; Meisels and others 2003,
76)
• Help set the table for lunchtime.
(36 mos.; Meisels and others
2003, 77)
Behaviors leading up to the
foundation (19 to 35 months)
During this period, the child may:
• Drink from a cup without spilling
much. (24 mos.; Meisels and
others 2003, 52)
• Try to put on own socks. (24
mos.; Meisels and others 2003,
52)
• Pull her shoes off at naptime.
(24 mos.; Meisels and others
2003, 52)