Infant Toddler Learning & Development Foundations

Foundation: Attention Maintenance
The developing ability to attend to people and things while interacting with
others and exploring the environment and play materials
8 months 18 months 36 months
At around eight months of age,
children pay attention to different
things and people in the environment
in specific, distinct ways.
(Bronson 2000, 64)
For example, the child may:
• Play with one toy for a few
minutes before focusing on a
different toy. (6–9 mos.; Parks
2004, 12 and 26; 8 mos.;
American Academy of Pediatrics
2004, 241)
• Focus on a desired toy that is
just out of reach while repeatedly
reaching for it. (5–9 mos.;
Parks 2004, 49)
• Show momentary attention to
board books with bright colors
and simple shapes.
• Attend to the play of other
children.
• Put toy animals into a clear
container, dump them out, and
then fill the container up again.
(8 mos.; Meisels and others
2003, 21)
• Stop moving, to focus on the
infant care teacher when she
starts to interact with the child.
Behaviors leading up to the
foundation (4 to 7 months)
During this period, the child may:
• Remain calm and focused on
people, interesting toys, or
interesting sounds for a minute
or so. (1–6 mos.; Parks 2004,
9)
• Explore a toy by banging,
mouthing, or looking at it.
(Scaled score of 9 for 3:26–
4:05 mos.; Bayley 2006, 52)
At around 18 months of age,
children rely on order and predictability
in the environment to
help organize their thoughts and
focus attention. (Bronson 2000,
191)
For example, the child may:
• Expect favorite songs to be
sung the same way each time
and protest if the infant care
teacher changes the words.
• Insist on following the same
bedtime routine every night.
• Nod and take the infant care
teacher’s hand when the
teacher says, “I know you are
sad because Shanti is using
the book right now, and you
would like a turn. Shall we go
to the book basket and find
another one to read together?”
Behaviors leading up to the
foundation (9 to 17 months)
During this period, the child may:
• Pay attention to the infant care
teacher’s voice without being
distracted by other noises in
the room. (9–11 mos.; Parks
2004; 12)
• Focus on one toy or activity
for a while when really interested.
(By 12 mos.; American
Academy of Pediatrics 2004,
241)
At around 36 months of age, children
sometimes demonstrate the
ability to pay attention to more than
one thing at a time.
For example, the child may:
• Realize, during clean-up time,
that he has put a car in the block
bin and return to put it in the
proper place.
• Search for and find a favorite
book and ask the infant care
teacher to read it.
• Pound the play dough with a
hammer while talking with a peer.
Behaviors leading up to the
foundation (19 to 35 months)
During this period, the child may:
• Play alone with toys for several
minutes at a time before moving
on to different activity. (18–24
mos.; Parks 2004, 15)
• Sit in a parent’s lap to read a
book together. (Scaled score of
10 for 21:16–22:15 mos.; Bayley
2006)
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COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT