Social Communication Growth Charts

1. Language

Gestures & Meanings

I can orient toward your voice and change what I’m doing in response to you.

• Smile at you when you come to kiss me
• Watch you as you wipe me down with a cloth
• Look at you and smile when you sing to me
• Turn toward you when you come close and call my name
• Move my arms when Grandpa calls my name and reaches for me

Sounds & Words

I can make gurgling sounds when I’m happy and different cries when I’m upset.

• Make a loud cry when my needs are urgent, like when I’m hungry or in pain
• Whine and fuss when you change my diaper
• Make raspberry noises so you’ll laugh again
• Control my cry and begin to use happy sounds when you comfort me
• Make happy gurgling sounds when you pick me up after a nap
• Make a whiny or sleepy cry when I’m tired and squeal when I’m excited

2. Play

Using Actions with Objects

I can move my fingers and bring my hands to my mouth.

• Bring my fist to my mouth and suck on it
• Grasp your finger when you stroke my hand
• Close my fingers around the chew toy you offer to me
• Grasp at your hair when you’re holding me
• Grab my toes and bring them to my mouth

Social Sharing with Objects

I can easily look at faces and objects that are near me.

• See the toy my sister holds up to show me, then look back at her face
• Look at the shapes on my crib sheets and then up to you as you approach my crib
• Notice the ceiling fan but quickly turn to you when I see your face
• Look toward my new diaper you just picked up, then back up to you
• Notice the pattern on your shirt while I’m nursing, but prefer to linger on your face

3. Social interactions

Social Attention

I am drawn to look at your face when you are holding me or come near me.

• Look at you while your holding me
• Notice you as you change my diaper
• Notice my sister as she reaches for my toes
• Watch as you walk toward me in my crib
• Look toward Grandpa as he reaches for me

Intentional Communication

I can make sounds and move my arms and legs when I’m excited.

• Coo and move my arms when I see my favorite chew toy
• Kick my legs and make gurgling sounds when I’m happy to see you
• Squeal when the dog comes up to me
• Stretch my legs and make happy noises when I wake up
• Lift my head during tummy time when I see you in front of me

4. Emotional regulation

Sharing & Managing Emotions

I can smile back at you when you smile at me.

• Smile at you when you come close and squeeze my toes
• Notice and smile when you hide behind your hands and then smile
• Watch my brother make funny faces and smile back at him
• Take a break while drinking my bottle and grin at you when you sing to me
• Smile back at you when lean down to change my diaper and talk to me

Regulating Challenging Moments

I can calm myself briefly by putting my hands in my mouth and sucking on my fingers.

• Cry and lay my head on my tray when my spoon falls down
• Whine and kick away my diaper while you’re trying to change me
• Grab your arm and cry when you have to take the remote out of my hands
• Turn and hide my head on your shoulder when I’m afraid of the pop-up toy
• Use an upset voice and scoot away when you’re trying to put my shoes on

5. Self-directed learning

Understanding Messages

I notice you and turn my head toward you when I hear your voice.

• Become quiet when I hear your voice
• Grin when I hear Grandma sing to me
• Notice you talking to me when you come to pick me up
• Look toward my brother when he laughs near me
• Turn toward you when you’re close to me and linger on your eyes and face

Creating New Ideas

I explore my body by touching and mouthing.

• Kick my feet in my crib
• Stretch my arms out in front of me
• Mouth my fist to explore it and find my fingers
• Grab my toes and suck on them
• Accidentally bat at my musical toy and notice the sound it makes

1. Language

Gestures & Meanings

I can turn toward you and bat at a toy you offer.

• Reach both hands toward my bottle when hold it close to me
• Hold my hands out to touch a mirror we are sitting in front of
• Bat at the stuffed animals on my play yard
• Reach to grab your hair and face when you lean down to kiss me
• Bat at the dog’s tail when it wags near me

Sounds & Words

I can make cooing sounds when I see you or see something interesting.

• Gurgle and kick my feet when Grandpa comes up to me
• Make an “ah” sound when the cat comes near
• Make cooing sounds when you look at me and bring your face close
• Make gurgling noises when my sister sings to me
• Make and “ooh” sound when you bring a favorite toy near me

2. Play

Using Actions with Objects

I can mouth or touch an object that you put near me.

• Open my mouth and lean into my pacifier when you hold it close to me
• Grasp a stuffed toy that you put near in my hand
• Hold and mouth a chew toy that you put near my mouth
• Open my mouth and bat at/swipe at the spoon as you feed me
• Grab for the blanket you offer me as I lay down for nap

Social Sharing with Objects

I can watch and follow a toy move from side to side.

• Look at and follow my bottle as you bring it to me
• I turn and follow a squeaky squirt toy you show me in my bath
• Watch my brother run around and be silly
• Kick excitedly when I notice the dog is walking in the room
• Turn my head and smile when you move my favorite stuffed toy from side to side

3. Social interactions

Social Attention

I can look at you and smile when I’m happy.

• Look toward you and smile when you sing my favorite song
• Notice Grandma on the phone and smile when she talks to me
• Watch Daddy and smile when he gets my toes
• Look at you and coo when we hear the dog bark
• Watch you and smile when you sing to me during a diaper change

Intentional Communication

I can look at you to keep the interaction going and look away when it’s too much.

• Turn away and fuss to let you know I’m ready to be done with diaper change
• Look to you while I’m nursing and enjoy hearing you hum
• Look away after hearing you sing and clap to let you know I need a break
• Watch my sisters nearby to show that I’m interested in what they’re doing
• Look at you and smile to let you know I want you to keep making that funny noise

4. Emotional regulation

Sharing & Managing Emotions

I can smile and laugh with you when you make a silly sound or a toy makes a fun noise.

• Watch and chuckle when you make funny sounds in the bathroom mirror
• Look for you and giggle when you cover up your face with a blanket
• Notice you squeezing my squeaky toy and smile at you
• Look at my sister and smile when she dances and sings in front of me
• Turn and notice when you walk in the room and call my name in a sing-song voice

Regulating Challenging Moments

I can calm down when you rock me, touch me, or make gentle sounds.

• Settle onto your shoulder when it’s time for nap and you sing softly
• Sigh and calm down when you pat my back
• Quiet my crying when you hold me and sway back and forth
• Calm down when I look and see you coming to pick me up
• Stop fussing when you get my clean diaper on

5. Self-directed learning

Understanding Messages

I can notice things that make sounds or move around me.

• Look toward my musical toy that you just turned on
• Notice you when you lean in to my crib to pick up my blanket
• Watch as my sister comes near my seat and talks to me
• Notice Grampa walk in the room and call my name while I’m mouthing my teether
• Watch you reach for my new diaper

Creating New Ideas

I explore things by touching, batting, and mouthing.

• Touch your arm while nursing
• Flail my arms toward my brother when comes to tickle me
• Hit at a soft toy that is making a noise
• Mouth my fingers and toes
• Touch your face when you lean down to kiss me

1. Language

Gestures & Meanings

I can try to roll over and take or touch a toy that you offer.

• Roll over from my tummy to reach toward a bottle you offer me
• Lean toward you in my support seat and touch the spoon as you offer a bite
• Turn to my side to touch the cat as it walks by
• Reach for and grab a washcloth as you wipe my face
• Roll over from my back and grab for a toy that you place near me

Sounds & Words

I can use my voice to make different sounds in a variety of activities.

• Make happy squealing noises as I look at you
• Use a whiny voice when I can’t reach my pacifier
• Make raspberry noises while you’re changing my diaper
• Make cooing sounds like “ahhh” when you move close to me
• Giggle as I splash in the tub

2. Play

Using Actions with Objects

I can reach to take and hold an object while on my back or belly.

• Reach for my clean diaper while you’re changing me
• Pull and hold the burp cloth on your shoulder while I’m nursing
• Grab the wet towel when you wipe my face
• Reach and pull my brother’s hair when he lays down next to me
• Take and hold the stuffed toy you put near me during tummy time

Social Sharing with Objects

I can enjoy interacting with you while holding an object.

• Grasp my spoon with your help, and watch you fix my food
• Get excited and look to you when I see you coming with my bottle
• Look at you and coo while I’m patting the dog
• Use my voice and smile while I hold a rattle
• Look toward you while I chew on my teething keys

3. Social interactions

Social Attention

I can shift my attention from you to an object and back to you.

• Look at the spoon with sweet potatoes on it and then look back at your face
• Watch you as you change my diapers, then notice the wet wipe you grab, and look back at you
• Notice you pet the dog, then reach out to the dog and look back at you
• Watch your face as you undress me, then look at my sock as you pull it off, and back at you as we giggle
• Look at you, then shift my attention to the colorful block you’re holding, and look back at you

Intentional Communication

I can use my voice and movements when I need something.

• Kick my legs and fuss to let you know I’m really hungry
• Grunt and move my arms when my toy is stuck
• Reach and use my voice when you’re holding something I want
• Bounce my body and giggle when you pick me up
• Look at you and use a whiny voice to let you know I’m uncomfortable

4. Emotional regulation

Sharing & Managing Emotions

I can use different sounds to let you know I’m happy.

• Look at you and chuckle when you make a silly noise
• Squeal to show I’m happy when Grandma picks me up
• Make happy sounds when you hand me my bottle
• Cackle and wave my arms with excitement when the cat comes near me
• Make a “mmm mmm” sound when I take a bite of something yummy

Regulating Challenging Moments

I can start to calm down when I see you coming to comfort me.

• Sigh and stop crying when you pick me up and hand me my pacifier
• Use a softer voice when I see my food is coming
• Cling to you as we watch the noisy trash truck
• Lean toward you for comfort when the dog starts barking
• Settle down in my crib when I hear you singing to me

5. Self-directed learning

Understanding Messages

I can notice what you say and do and change my expression or action.

• Turn toward you when you snuggle beside me
• Look at you when you say “Uh oh” as my banana falls
• Pull my leg out as you’re taking my pants off
• Grab my bib as you unsnap it and say “all done”
• Reach out to touch your hands and smile when you clap and say “pat a cake”

Creating New Ideas

I can try different actions and watch to see what happens.

• Shake my rattle and notice the noise my rattle makes when I move it
• Kick the stroller footrest to make a loud thump
• Mouth a bumpy teether to explore its shape, then bang it on my car seat
• Squeeze a crinkle toy to hear the noise
• Wiggle over in my crib to reach my blanket

1. Language

Gestures & Meanings

I can use my hands to take things and move my body toward what interests me.

• Reach out to touch your hair or jewelry
• Wiggle and scoot closer to something I’m interested in
• Reach to grab bubbles in the bathtub
• Reach out to pick up a piece of banana from myhigh chair tray
• Hold a toy in one hand and reach out to pat the dog

Sounds & Words

I can make different noises with my mouth and different sounds.

• Make excited squealing noises as I crawl toward you on the floor
• Whine when I drop my toy out of reach
• Make raspberry noises so you’ll laugh again
• Say ba ba ba while I’m bouncing in my swing
• Make sounds like “ma ma ma” while waiting for my food to be ready

2. Play

Using Actions with Objects

I can grasp, hold, bang, mouth, and let go of objects to explore how they work.

• Shake a rattle to make noise
• Bring a toy to my mouth to chew on it
• Hold a toy in each hand and bang them together
• Grab, bang, and drop plastic spoons on the kitchen floor
• Reach out with both hands to touch a stuffed animal

Social Sharing with Objects

I am interested in exploring objects with you and noticing your reactions.

• Reach to take a toy you give me while you’re changing my diaper
• Laugh when you hide behind the blanket and then reappear
• Watch to see if you notice when I make a loud noise playing with pots and pans
• Hold my spoon out while I’m eating and notice that you’re watching
• Bounce and kick my legs in my car seat and look to see if you’re watching me

Social Attention

I notice you, look at you often, and can easily shift my attention to you when you talk or gesture.

• Watch you wash the dishes while I eat my snack
• Giggle and look at you when you are about to tickle my toes
• Look up at you when you walk in the room, even if I’m playing with toys
• Watch as you sing and clap your hands and reach out to touch them
• Crawl to you as you call my name and hold out your arms

Intentional Communication

I am learning you are the agent of change.

• Reach and look at you when you’re holding something I want
• Use a loud voice and then notice that I got your attention
• Turn away from you when I’m finished eating
• Cry and look to you for help when I’ve dropped something
• Kick my feet excitedly and look at you when I see you coming to pick me up

4. Emotional regulation

Sharing & Managing Emotions

I can smile, laugh, and use my voice when I’m happy.

• Laugh and look at you when you make a silly noise
• Squeal with excitement when Grandma is about to pick me up
• Make happy sounds when I see you coming with my cup
• Giggle and look at you when the dog licks my arm
• Bounce up and down and use my excited voice when big brother comes in the room

Regulating Challenging Moments

I can use different actions and sounds, in addition to crying, when I’m upset.

• Cry and lay my head on my tray when my spoon falls down
• Whine and kick away my diaper while you’re trying to change me
• Grab your arm and cry when you have to take the remote out of my hands
• Turn and hide my head on your shoulder when I’m afraid of the pop-up toy
• Use an upset voice and scoot away when you’re trying to put my shoes on

5. Self-directed learning

Understanding Messages

I can use different actions and sounds that show I anticipate what will happen next.

• Roll over to you when you walk in the room to be near you
• Start pushing on my tray when I know it’s time to get down
• Scoot away quickly and giggle when I hear you say Gonna get you
• Cruise over and pull on your pants when I see you drumming on your lap
• Hold my arm out to help when you put my shirt on

Creating New Ideas

I am interested in learning what I can do with objects.

• Explore your hair by rubbing and holding onto it while you carry me
• Bang a pot on the kitchen floor to hear the loud sound
• Splash my bath toys to see what will happen
• Drop cheerios on the floor and watch the dog come gobble them up
• Have fun smashing my banana on my tray

1. Language

Gestures & Meanings

I can use early gestures like giving and reaching to get you to do something.

• Give you my sippy cup to get you to fill it up
• Reach for the crackers I want you to give me
• Turn my head away from something I don’t want
• Push away an object I don’t want
• Raise my arms to ask you to pick me up

Sounds & Words

I can use my voice to make different sounds to let you know how I feel.

• Make joyful sounds while we play to let you know I am happy
• Use a frustrated tone in my voice when you offer me a snack I don’t want
• Make three different vocal sounds, like fussing, laughing, or blowing raspberries
• Make two different vowel sounds like oooh, a-a-a, or eee
• Use consonant and vowel sounds together like mamama, woo woo, gaga, or dada

2. Play

Using Actions with Objects

I can explore objects and repeat different actions with objects.

• Bang the pots and pans to make music
• Chew on my plastic ring, then shake it and bang it
• Bang my sippy cup on my tray, then tip it over, and bang it again
• Tug on my sock and pull it off
• Push the block off the table, smile when you give it back, then drop it again and laugh

Social Sharing with Objects

I enjoy and anticipate your actions.

• Look at you and give you my spoon when I’m done eating
• Pull the cloth off your head, laugh when you say peek-a-boo, and give it back to do it again
• Take my favorite book out of a box and give it to you to read
• Hold my arms up to help you get my shirt on
• Hold out my hand, make a happy noise, and take a cracker you hand me

3. Social interactions

Social Attention

I notice you and what you’re looking at.

• Watch as you put dishes away while I eat my snack
• Notice a picture you point to in a book, then look at you and look back at the book
• Look at you when you get my favorite bath toy and give it to me
• Watch you as you walk over to my crib and raise my arms for you to pick me up
• Look at you to check in regularly while you push me in the grocery cart

Intentional Communication

I can let you know what I want and what I don’t want.

• Reach up and look at you when I want you to pick me up
• Push away the oatmeal bowl when I don’t want any more
• Reach toward the banana I want on the counter and look back at you
• Use an upset voice when I have a boo-boo to get you to comfort me
• Make a silly sound and pat your arm to get you to pay attention to me

4. Emotional regulation

Sharing & Managing Emotions

I can share happy moments when I interact with you.

• Look toward you when you say I’m gonna get you and then crawl away from you giggling
• Bounce and smile when you walk in the room and raise my arms to be picked up
• Look at you and make playful sounds when you change my diaper
Pull on the blanket you’re hiding under and laugh when I find you
• Look at you, smile, and make a happy sound when you squeak my favorite toy
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Regulating Challenging Moments

I can share sad or frustrated feelings to get you to comfort me.

• Cry and reach my arms out to you when I fall down trying to pull up on the furniture
• Use a frustrated tone in my voice and look at you for help when I can’t pick up a piece of banana from my tray
• Push your hand away and use a fussy voice to let you know I don’t want my jacket on
• Cry, raise my arms, and look at you to get you to hold me whe

5. Self-directed learning

Understanding Messages

I can guess what you’re about to do and use “hints” around me to understand your message.

• Drop toys in the tub when you run the water because I figure out it’s time for my bath
• Reach for my bib when you put me in my high chair because I realize it’s time to eat
• Put my hands under the running water when you say Let’s wash your hands
• Get my shoes when you point to them and say It’s time to go
• Pull up my shirt and giggle when you say I’m gonna get you with a playful voice

Creating New Ideas

I notice you and listen to your voice to guide my actions.

• Respond with a loud voice in my crib to answer back when I hear you call for me
• Crawl into your lap and pull on your sleeve to get your attention when you are on the phone
• Pull off my bib when you say All done after snack
• Stop right away when you say No-no-no in a firm voice as I touch something I shouldn’t
• Hold up my hands and open and close them when you start singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

1. Language

Gestures & Meanings

I can use gestures like showing and pointing to get you to notice what I am interested in.

• Hold up my spoon just to show it to you
• Wiggle my hand like I am trying to wave
• Show you a block from the tower that just crashed
• Tap a picture I want you to notice in a book
• Point to the light to get you to notice it

Sounds & Words

I can use speech sounds together as if I am “talking” to you.

• Use speech sounds like mama, baba, or dada when we interact
• Combine sounds as if I’m talking to you when we’re getting my shoes on
• Use a string of sounds together while we play a hiding game
• Use different sounds while we are having a snack together
• Use speech sounds as if we’re having a conversation

2. Play

Using Actions with Objects

I can use functional actions with several objects.

• Hold my sippy cup to my mouth and drink
• Put finger foods in my mouth by myself
• Put your phone to my ear and listen to grandma
• Wipe my face with a napkin and drop it in the trash
• Turn a page in a book

Social Sharing with Objects

I enjoy taking turns exchanging objects with you.

• Roll a big ball or truck back and forth with you
• Take turns putting a silly hat on your head, then on mine
• Give you a toy that won’t work so you’ll fix it
• Bang on a toy drum, then laugh and look at you when you drum on it too
• Hold out my hand for you to give me some cheese, then give you a piece

3. Social interactions

Social Attention

I am eager to interact with you and help keep the interaction going.

• Take turns making silly sounds together
• Pull the blanket off your head and give it back to you to keep a game of peek-a-boo going
• Try to roll a ball back and forth with your encouragement
• Take turns filling a cup and pouring the water out while taking a bath
• Look at you, laugh, and make a game of dropping things from my tray to interact with you

Intentional Communication

I can get you to notice me and things I’m interested in.

• Wiggle my body and make a silly sound to get you to dance with me
• Point to a picture in a book I want you to see
• Tap or point to a magnet on the refrigerator to get you to name it
• Pick up a leaf and show it to you when we are walking in the backyard
• Climb up in your lap when you are talking on the phone so you’ll pay attention to me

4. Emotional regulation

Sharing & Managing Emotions

I can share enjoyment and flow with transitions between activities.

• Look at you, smile, and make a silly sound to get you to laugh while you change my diaper
• Give you my pail and shovel when it’s time to clean up the sandbox and go inside
• Squeal with excitement and reach for my bib when you tell me it’s time for lunch
• Look at you, smile, and help wipe my tray when you say Let’s finish snack and go outside
• Raise my hands to be picked up from the bath and pat with the towel to help you dry me off

Regulating Challenging Moments

I can hang in there during a necessary activity and do things to make myself feel better.

• Look at you and reach to request my pacifier for comfort when it’s time for a diaper change
• Settle down when you hand me a bib to hold while I wait for my lunch
• Calm down from fussing when you give me a sock to hold while you dress me
• Take the washcloth you offer to help wipe my face after getting mess
• Choose a favorite toy to play with while you buckle me in my car seat

5. Self-directed learning

Understanding Messages

I can follow simple directions like “come here” or “give it to me” when you ask me with gestures.

• Crawl over to you when you hold out your arms and say Come here
• Hold my foot up so you can put my sock on when you tap my leg and say Give me your foot
• Crawl over to Daddy when you point to him and say Where’s daddy
• Put my dirty shirt in the laundry hamper when you tell me to and open the lid
• Look around for the ball when you hold out your hands and say Get the ball

Creating New Ideas

I watch you and try to do something with you or take on a job I can do with a little help.<

• Try to get the spoon to my mouth after you help me scoop up some yogurt
• Rub my hands together with soap when you tell me to and then help you turn off the faucet
• Watch you put a puzzle piece in and try to put one in myself
• Wave and say Bye-bye after you show me how
• Wipe my tray with a napkin when you show me how and say You can do it

1. Language

Gestures & Meanings

I can learn new gestures like clapping and blowing a kiss by watching and imitating you.

• Watch you clap your hands and try to do it myself
• Try to wave when I see you wave goodbye to Grandma
• Watch you blow a kiss and try to do it, too
• Try to imitate when you show me simple gestures like shhh or stinky
• Imitate some of your motions when we sing Itsy Bitsy Spider

Sounds & Word

I can use a few protowords or early forms of words in familiar situations.

• Say uh-oh when something drops
• Say baba when I want my bottle
• Try to say vroom vroom when I push a toy car
• Make animal sounds when we see animals in a favorite book
• Imitate night-night when you put me to bed

2. Play

Using Actions with Objects

I can use functional actions with you or a stuffed animal.

• Brush your hair after watching you brush mine
• Take a bite and then feed you with a spoon
• Take my hat off and put it on your head
• Try to put my sunglasses on my Teddy Bear
• Cover my baby doll with a blanket and pat her to sleep

Social Sharing with Objects

I can learn new actions with objects by watching and imitating you.

• Build a tower with blocks by taking turns with you
• Put toy animals in a truck and push it after watching you do it
• Watch Grandma put on her shoes and then try to put mine on to
• Babble on my toy phone while you talk on your phone
• Wipe my tray with a wet cloth after watching you do it

3. Social interaction

Social Attention

I can watch you and imitate what you do and say.

• Watch you blow a kiss, and try to do it myself
• Hear you call the dog and imitate calling the dog’s
• Watch you move your hands and try to open and close my hands while we sing Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star
• Pretend to talk on a phone like I’ve watched you do
• Say bye-bye after you say it when we wave goodbye to Grandma

Intentional Communication

I can communicate to share my enjoyment and interests with you.

• Open my animal book and say woof-woof to get you to look at the dog picture
• Say yum-yum and look at you when I see my yogurt
• Point to the mail truck out the window and look back at you to make sure you saw it too

4. Emotional regulation

Sharing & Managing Emotions

I can seek out situations that are fun, invite you to join me, and insist on being part of the action.

• Pick out my favorite puzzle and bring you a puzzle piece to ask you to play with me
• Climb in a cardboard box, look at you, and say Row-row to ask you to sing the Row your Boat song
• Point to a puddle while we are walking outside to ask to splash
• Crawl over to you while you’re putting clothes in the dryer and ask to push the button
• Reach for your sunglasses and try to put them on to make you laugh

Regulating Challenging Moments

I can make it clear to you that I do not “want” something or do not want “to do” something.

• Say no-no and turn my head away when you offer me food I don’t want
• Shake my head and push the washcloth away when I am playing in the bathtub
• Say all done and help clean up when I am done playing blocks
• Protest and pull my spoon away when I want to keep eating
• Whine and hug you because I don’t want you to put me down to sleep

5. Self-directed learning

Understanding Messages

I can listen to you and try to figure out your message.

• Try to follow your requests when it’s time to get dressed, like Give me your arm, Where’s your foot, Pull up
• Help wipe my face and tray when you tell me it’s time to clean up from
• Listen and try to follow your rhythm when we play music together
• Try to name the animals in my picture book when you say What’s this
• Throw away the piece of paper I found on the floor when you tell me to

Creating New Ideas

I can communicate my preference when you offer several choices or let you know I want something else.

• Use my voice and point to the book I want when you offer me a few books
• Say no and push away the cereal I don’t like, then reach for the bananas
• Say Quack-quack for my toy duck when you ask what I’d like to carry to the bathtub
• Point and say Dat when you give me a choice of shoes to wear outside
• Reach and say Swing when I want to get out of the wagon and get in the swing

1. Language

Gestures & Meanings

I can use symbolic gestures to share ideas with you.

• Give you a high five when we celebrate
• Pinch my nose when I notice something stinky
• Point to a bird I see outside the window so you will notice it
• Nod my head or give a thumbs-up to answer yes
• Shrug my shoulders as if to say I don’t know

Sounds & Words

I can use at least 5 different words that mean something to both of us.

• Say hi and bye to greet people
• Use words to request things I want like ball, eat, banana
• Say no or bye-bye to let you know I do not want something
• Use words for important people or animals like mommy, auntie, dada, doggie
• Say more or again to ask for more or another turn

2. Play

Using Actions with Objects

I can use pretend actions with objects that have imagined things from everyday activities.

• Pretend to stir with a big spoon and scoop pretend food onto a plate when we play picnic
• Feed my teddy bear with pretend milk in a bottle
• Pretend to pour juice into a cup and take a drink
• Push a toy train and make a Choo-Choo sound
• Put my feet in boxes and pretend they are shoes

Social Sharing with Objects

I can use objects in a silly, playful way and in a way that helps you get things done.

• Put a cracker on my nose to be silly and get your attention while eating my snack
• Put a box on my head to hide and to initiate peek-a-boo
• Push the laundry hamper down the hallway and say vroom-vroom
• Wipe my tray with a paper towel then crumble it up like a ball and toss it in the trash
• Help you sweep the floor with a broom and then try to hold the dustpan

3. Social interactions

Social Attention

I can communicate to get your attention and check in with you regularly.

• Call out for you when I wake up from my nap
• Say Mama to get your attention while you’re washing dishes and then ask for more juice
• Look at you to check in while I am sitting across the room with Aunt Maria
• Look at you and tap your arm to show you how I make my bath toy squirt
• Call for you and wave when you come to pick me up from daycare

Intentional Communication

I try to figure out what you mean and keep the interaction going.

• Put on my shoes when you point to them and say Let’s get ready to go outside
• Hold out my hands to get the next apple and put it in the bag at the grocery store
• Pick up my clothes when you ask me to help you put them all in the laundry hamper
• Watch and listen when we play Ring-around-the-Rosie to know when to stop and fall down
• Shrug my shoulders when you ask me something I don’t understand

4. Emotional regulation

Sharing & Managing Emotions

I can stay active and engaged with you in fun situations and in necessary activities.

• Hang in there with you while we get all of the laundry out of the dryer
• Work with you to get all of the toys picked up before we go outside
• Help you water the plants outside with my little watering can
• Get motivated to brush my teeth when you sing a tooth-brushing song
• Go along with putting my shoes on even though I’d rather wear my boots

Regulating Challenging Moments

I can tolerate you helping me stick with a task, even when I am upset.

• Let you finish cleaning my face with a cloth after I protest and push it away
• Let you blow bubbles if I can hold the bubble wand when I am frustrated that I can’t do it
• Help you put my toys away even though I am not ready to take a bath
• Let you guide me back inside even though I’m whining and want to stay outside and play
• Let you help me with my spoon for a few bites even though I’m frustrated and want to do it myself

5. Self-directed learning

Understanding Messages

I can respond when you talk to me and share my ideas with you.

• Respond by saying Yummy when you ask about my yogurt
• I point and say Tree, uh oh, when we discover a big limb that fell down in our yard
• Say Puppy night-night and use the shhh gesture when you show me a picture of a dog sleeping
• Say No with a fussy voice when you tell me it’s almost time to leave the
• Pull up the stool and say Help when you tell me it’s time to wash the dishes

Creating New Ideas

I can be productive doing my job and stand my ground with you.

• Take the comb and say Mine when you try to help because I want to do it
• Insist I take my favorite cup to the sink instead of you taking it
• Pull my hands away and say Me wash because I want to show you I can wash my hands
• Help pull the clothes out of the dryer and insist on being the one to close the door when we’re done
• Tell you I want to pull my pants up by myself while you help me get them on

1. Language

Gestures & Meanings

I can look at you and use a gesture and word together to tell you what I am thinking.

• Reach toward you and say baba excitedly when I see you coming with my bottle
• Point and say truck to ask for my favorite truck on the shelf
• Show you my favorite blanket while looking at you and saying blankie
• Look at Grandma, wave, and say bye-bye
• Shake my head and tell you no when I do not want something

Sounds & Words

I can use at least 10 different words that mean something to both of us.

• Tell you what I want to eat like cookie, banana, yogurt, crackers, juice
• Say object names such as book, car, keys, cup, shoe
• Use descriptive words like all-gone, stinky, loud
• Point to and name animals like cow, birdy, kitty when we look at books together
• Name a body part such as eye, nose, or tummy when you ask me

2. Play

Using Actions with Objects

I can pretend using new actions that you show me or tell me to do.

• Pretend to take the baby doll’s temperature after you show me how
• Pretend to shake salt into my play pots and then stir like I’ve seen you do
• Hold a stick and string and pretend to go fishing when you show me how
• Sing along and try to blow the candles out with you on the pretend cake for Bear’s birthday
• Pretend to fix a wheel on my toy truck that is broken

Social Sharing with Objects

I can use several objects together to build or create something with you.

• Build a big tower with shoe boxes and get your attention before knocking it down
• Take turns putting cars in a bucket and pretend we are washing them
• Use a box to make a bed for my baby doll with a pillow and a blanket
• Line up my trucks and take turns drawing lines for a road with chalk on the sidewalk
• Make balls with Playdoh and put them together with you to build a snowman

3. Social interactions

Social Attention

I can hang in and do something with you and monitor what you’re paying attention to.

• Pull out a slice of bread, hand it to you, and wait until you’re done spreading jelly to give you the next slice
• Take each piece of silverware from you after you dry it and put it in the drawer
• Pull the laundry hamper down the hall with you and hand you clothes to put in the washer
• Help you water with my watering can after you put each seed in the dirt
• Hold out my arm as you put on my shirt, then hold out the other arm, and tuck my head as you pull it on

Intentional Communication

I try to help you know what I mean by adding information to my message.

• Pull you to my closet and point to my truck when you don’t understand I’m asking for that
• Let you know I don’t want the cereal you are offering and bring you the one I want
• Take my shoes and go to the door to make it clear I want to go outside
• Say Duck-duck to let you know I want my duck pajamas, not something
• Hold my arms out like wings to ask you to help me find my favorite toy airplane

4. Emotional regulation

Sharing & Managing Emotions

I can get motivated or settle down with the help of your words and stay available for learning.

• Stop protesting and sit down to put my shoes on when you remind me that we can go outside
• Settle down after being frustrated by a toy because your words are calming and help me to keep playing
• Calm down even when I’m hungry and use my words when you offer me a choice of snacks
• Help you take my clothes off and put my bathing suit on when you tell me it is time to go swimming
• Let you hold my hand so I can carry the mail as we walk back to the house and open a card from Grandpa

Regulating Challenging Moments

I can shift attention from something I want to do and engage in a different activity with you.

• Get my pajamas on even though I don’t want to, when you say we can read my favorite book before bedtime
• Turn off my favorite TV show to greet Grandpa at the door
• Agree to not splash water when you show me how to make my boat go fast and slow in the bathtub
• Put down the iPad when you suggest we go play on the swing
• Accept a one-more-minute warning then come in from water play outside

5. Self-directed learning

Understanding Messages

I can understand words without gestures in familiar situations.

• Take my napkin and put it in the trash when you tell me to
• Touch my eyes, nose, and belly when you ask me to
• Find the truck and the school bus when you ask me to point to them in my book
• Bring you a big leaf when you ask me to find one as we walk to the mailbox
• Go find Grandma and say Come Nana when you ask me to tell her it’s time for dinner

Creating New Ideas

I notice opportunities for interaction and learning and can get myself involved.

• Ask you to pick me up when you use the microwave so I can push the Start button
• Ask Grandpa to put shaving cream on my face so I can pretend to shave when I see him shaving
• Show you the rock I found and put it in my basket while collecting things on our walk
• Make silly noises to get my baby sister to laugh during her diaper change
• Help you sort the laundry so I can put clothes in the washer with you

1. Language

Gestures & Meanings

I can use my words to share something interesting and to protest something I don’t want.

• Use my words to ask for juice or a snack when I am hungry
• Say no, mine, or stop when I want you to stop doing something
• Say no, gone, or bye-bye when I don’t want something you have offered
• Use words to show you something that just happened like uh-oh juice, truck beep-beep
• Say that or the object name to point out something interesting

Sounds & Words

I can use at least 20 words to name people, animals, body parts, objects, actions, and places.

• Name things that we have seen together like horsie, bird, cow, doggie, bunny
• Use names for more people like Mimi, Nana, Pop-Pop, brother, and sister
• Use descriptive words like mine, big, hot, dirty
• Use action words like do, help, see, push, open, kiss, go, sleep
• Name places we go together like outside, park, store, Papa house

2. Play

Using Actions with Objects

I can pretend using actions with imagined things from less familiar activities.

• Pour pretend batter into a pan and flip the pancakes when you tell me they’re ready
• Pretend to give my teddy bear a shot, then offer him a hug to comfort him
• Cook some pretend soup in a pan, scoop a spoonful, and blow on it before feeding my stuffed animal
• Spread my arms and pretend to fly like the other kids at the park
• Pretend to make my toy fish swim under water and then do a flip when I am in the bathtub

Social Sharing with Objects

I can combine different types of materials to create a play scenario with you.

• Put blocks on a plate and pretend I’m eating cookies with you
• Make a pretend road with blocks and take turns pushing my truck down the road
• Make a pizza out of sand, sticks, grass, and acorns and offer you some
• Put on a hat and hold a long tube and show you how I pretend to be a firefighter putting out a fire
• Dress up in your scarf and boots and pretend to visit Grandma

3. Social interactions

Social Attention

I am eager to share my interests and ideas with you.

• Say Woof-woof, doggie to tell you about the dog I saw outside
• Say Mama, pat-pat to share excitement about helping you flatten out the pizza dough
• Show you my crayon drawing and say Mama, Dada, house to describe it
• Say Red leaf and show you a special leaf I found while raking leaves together
• Pull the stool over and say My help to ask if you can drop your clothes into the washing machine

Intentional Communication

I can persist in communicating my message to you.

• Say More juice, more apple juice and then show you my empty cup to make it clear I need more juice
• Call Mommy, mommy and then say Come get me when I wake up in my bed
• Say No-no Daddy and shake my head to let you know I don’t want you to leave for work
• Say Help, My do, Puzzle no, when I try but can’t get the puzzle piece to fit in
• Say Keep light on when you put me to bed and add My scared, Mommy to let you know why

4. Emotional regulation

Sharing & Managing Emotions

I can share enjoyment with my words and gestures and stay engaged in the activity with you.

• Look at an animal book with you, show you animals I like, and make the animal sound when you point to a picture
• Enjoy having a snack with you and imitating new words like open, pour, take one, crunchy
• Sing along, clap, and pretend to play my guitar with you when we listen to our favorite music
• Call out Where are you and wave for you to come as we search for big brother in the back yard
• Say Silly when you put Mr. Potato Head’s foot in the wrong place, then point to where it’s supposed to go

Regulating Challenging Moments

I can say or do something that helps me manage my emotions and stay focused in a necessary activity.

• Ask for my favorite blanket to calm me when it’s time to come in from playing outside
• Say My help when I pull the laundry hamper down the hall and wait for you to show me which clothes go in
• Settle down and let you help me get into another activity when I’m upset that an activity has ended
• Ask you to come help after I spill my Cheerios and then help sweep them up
• Pick out a washcloth from the closet and ask for bubble soap while you fill the tub with water

5. Self-directed learning

I can follow simple directions when you ask me to do something.

• Take the washcloth and wipe my face when you ask me to
• Throw something away when you say Please pick it up, take it to the kitchen, and put it in the trash
• Go to the cupboard, open it, and give the dog a treat when you ask me to
• Pull my socks and shirt off when you ask me to get ready for bed
• Put the toys in a box and put the box on the shelf when you ask me to pick up my toys

Creating New Ideas

I can recognize a problem or challenge and try to figure out what to do.

• Look all over the house to find my shoes when you tell me it’s time to go outside
• Go to the kitchen and get a towel to wipe up the juice I spilled
• Lift the pillows on the couch to search for my toy plane
• Try a few different pieces to fix my toy train
• Try hard to push the door and then ask for help to open it so I can go outside with Grandpa

1. Language

Gestures & Meanings

I can learn many new words every week and use them to share ideas with you.

• Share my ideas such as big balloon, ride horsey, scary dog
• Comment on things disappearing like bubbles bye-bye, milk gone
• Use more descriptive words like red truck, big ball, mommy up, no night-night
• Use more action words like daddy sweep, mommy up, blocks fall down
• Use words you didn’t hear me use last week

Sounds & Words

I can use at least 50 words and combine two words to convey different meanings.

• Use phrases to ask for more of something like more cookie or tickle again
• Use words to share how I feel like sad or mommy happy
• Use words to tell you what happened like daddy work, juice done, truck bye-bye
• Use words to tell you who things belong to like mommy shoe, my cup, doggie ball
• Use word combinations to describe things like dirty diaper, that ball, nice kitty

2. Play

Using Actions with Objects

I can combine two different pretend actions with imagined things in a play scenario.

• Help roll out the Playdoh and cut cookies, then pretend to put sprinkles on and bake them
• Make my toy horse run and then eat pretend grass
• Put on a sheet and pretend it is a cape and I am flying
• Climb on a big box and pretend I am fishing in a boat
• Use a paper towel roll and make noise in it like it’s a trumpet and march around

Social Sharing with Objects

I can tell you about my play scenario and invite you to play with me.

• Ask you to help me stack up boxes to build a pretend house
• Find a stick and string for each of us and ask you to play fishing with me
• Get my shoes then tell you I want to go outside with you to make mud pies in the sandbox
• Invite you to go on a picnic with my teddy bear and me
• Say Wanna play horsie and ask to climb on your back and pretend you’re a horse

3. Social interactions

Social Attention

I can take a few turns sharing my ideas and listening to your ideas.

• Tell you about my leaf and look to see other things you point to outside
• Show you the buttons on my jacket and then look when you show me the zipper on your jacket
• Look at your new hat and I go get mine to show you
• Point to a train in my favorite book and name it, then turn the page and look at one you point out
• Try to reach the ball that rolled under the counter and ask you to help use my stick to get it

Intentional Communication

I can ask you about things that I don’t know.

• Say Where kitty when it’s time to feed the cat and she is not around
• Say What Grandpa do when he is working out in the garage
• Say What’s that when we look at pictures in a book and I don’t know the name
• Take turns talking about people we see when we go to Grandma’s house
• Ask you what’s in a pumpkin pie

4. Emotional regulation

Sharing & Managing Emotions

I can use my words to ask you to help me get motivated or settle down.

• Bring my shoes to you and say Help Mommy when I get frustrated trying to put them on myself
• Say Push me to get you to help me scoot my chair closer to the table so I can play with my big sister
• Ask to take my favorite book in the car when you tell me it’s time to go pick up Daddy
• Say Purple spoon when you tell me it’s time to take my medicine
• Say No read books when you ask if I’m all done after I push the books away

Regulating Challenging Moments

My very upset moments are getting briefer and I can flow with unpleasant or unexpected situations.

• Get mad when you say All done watching TV but calm down when you give me choices of other things to play with
• Get upset when we can’t go outside to play because it’s raining but feel better when you suggest we bake cookies
• Begin to cry then ask you for a kiss and Band-Aid when I fall down and skin my knee
• Help clean up my toys even though I protest that I want to do something else
• Calm down by sitting in my rocking chair with my doll, when the smoke alarm goes off and scares me

5. Self-directed learning

Understanding Messages

I can observe and listen to you to know what I am supposed to do and go along with your plan.

• Get my backpack and go to the door when you say It’s time to go
• Clean my face when you ask me to, then wipe my tray
• Get the watering can, fill it up, and help you water plants in the garden
• Watch you when we play Itsy Bitsy Spider and try to make the up and down hand movements
• Watch you stir, scoop, and pour batter into the pan and then take a turn when we make pancakes together

Creating New Ideas

I can come up a creative idea and let you know my plan.

• Put a blanket over the table and crawl under it to show you the tent I made
• Show you the dirt on the floor and tell you I’m going to get the broom
• Ask you to push the big stroller while I push my doll in the little stroller
• Try to dig a hole with the big shovel and fill up the wagon with dirt to move it to the driveway
• Turn my book into a ramp and show you how fast I can make my toy car roll down

1. Language

Gestures & Meanings

I can use phrases that describe things and request new information.

• Use phrases to ask questions like where daddy go or what doggie do
• Say what’s that to ask for the name of things
• Use phrases to describe things like no touch hot, my shoe stuck, or my ball gone-gone
• Use words to describe locations like up, out, in, off, on
• Use phrases to deny or refute something like no baby, not shoe, this ball not that one

Sounds & Words

I can use at least 100 words in phrases that include names, actions, and descriptions.

• Use phrases with agents and actions like mommy kiss, doggie run, daddy throw, baby sleep
• Use phrases to describe actions and objects like car go fast, tree so big, truck loud, want red cup, put on table
• Combine words that describe something not there like grandma go home, no more beans, blocks all gone
• Use phrases with agents, actions, and objects like mommy kiss baby, kitty eat food, daddy push car, mommy get bottle
• Use phrases to solve problems and feel better like ball stuck daddy

2. Play

Using Actions with Objects

I can combine several different pretend actions in a logical sequence.

• Put sand and stones in my dump truck, drive it over to the pretend building site, and dump it out
• Give my toy bear a bottle, burp him, and then change his diaper
• Color an envelope and pretend to mail a letter by putting it in a shoebox
• Put my toy animals in a bucket, pretend to give them a bath, then dry them with a towel
• Pretend to wash my toy dishes, put them on a counter to dry, and then put them away

Social Sharing with Objects

I can begin to take on a make-believe role in a pretend play scenario with you.

• Pretend to ride in a tractor and put our hats on while we’re reading a book about the farm
• Pretend to serve you food and pour you a drink at our make-believe restaurant
• Pile up sofa cushions with you and pretend we are climbing a mountain
• Put boxes in my wagon and pretend we are at the grocery store, then pay you when I leave
• Pretend to be the doctor and listen to your heart while we play

3. Social interactions

Social Attention

I can talk with you about a topic I’m interested in like we’re having a conversation.

• Start talking about the tree that fell down while on our walk together
• Point out and name the horses and cows I see while driving in the car
• Talk about the different balloons I see at the grocery store
• Ask what happened to the big pile of leaves we saw in the backyard
• Talk about what we can make with Playdoh today

Intentional Communication

I can let you know how I feel and negotiate when things don’t go my way.

• Tell you Mad and stomp my feet, when you ask me to put my favorite toy away
• Say No leave Mimi with a sad face when it’s time to go home from visiting Grandma
• Say One more time slide when you tell me it’s time to leave the park
• Help figure out what we can do together inside after hearing it’s snowing and we can’t go to the park
• Let you know I’m mad that you won’t let me carry the eggs and instead ask to carry the apples

4. Emotional regulation

Sharing & Managing Emotions

I can use my words to share moments of success with you.

• Go to the drawer, find the ice cream scoop, and tell you I got the big spoon
• Say My help when I hold my foot up and step into my pajamas
• Put my shoe on, close the Velcro strap, then look at you and say Look, I do it
• Say Mommy watch this when I squirt the hose and help water plants
• Say Papa look as I balance a box on my head

Regulating Challenging Moments

I can calm myself down, come back to you, and communicate what I want or need.

• After getting upset when I’m told I can’t have snack, I come back and ask if we can go outside
• Calm down and say That’s mine after brother takes my favorite truck
• Run out of the room when you tell me it’s time to go to bed and then bring you my favorite book
• Say No-no and stomp my feet when you don’t give me my own snack bowl, but then say Get my bowl
• Say My banana and pout when you ask me to share with sister, but calm down when you say Ask her to pour you milk

5. Self-directed learning

Understanding Messages

I can create opportunities to learn about things that interest me in everyday situations.

• Walk into the kitchen with my bare feet and tell you it’s cold
• Ask you Where they go when the fireflies light up and then disappear while we search for them in the back yard
• Bring a worm I found in the garden, show you how it wiggles, and ask Where him ears
• Help Mommy make a smoothie then tell daddy what we put in it — Banana, salad, and milk
• Look at picture in book and say Mommy look, Teddy bear make dough and Mommy says Like the cookie dough we made

Creating New Ideas

I can try out new things and seek out new opportunities for learning.

• Put on a raincoat and boots so we can take a walk and splash in puddles
• Help wash the car and learn how to spray with the hose to rinse
• Help find the bananas to put in my little cart while we go grocery shopping
• Find a pinecone outside and ask you what it is
• Climb through the new tunnel at the park and find you in the look-out window