Page 104 - Meeting with Children Book

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regulation through such things as thumb-sucking. By 6-8
months infants learn that objects continue to exist even
when out of sight (object permanence). Object permanence
is about spacial learning and a necessary precedence to
more complex problem-solving abilities. Typically by the
end of the first year of life, the child explores her
environment through crawling, rolling, pulling self on the
floor, etc. Imitation of vocal sounds and facial expressions
are observed. Early symbolic thinking comes on-line with
young children (18 months) beginning to experiment with
cause-and-effect outcomes through dropping toys or food,
and waiting for parent reactions to such behaviors.
Associations begin to form.

During the Pre-operational Stage the major characteristics
and developmental changes are that children begin to think
symbolically and learn to use words and pictures to
represent objects. This age group tends to be very
egocentric and sees things only from their point of view;
struggling to see things from the perspective of others.
Although language skills are improving, children in this age
group tend to think about things in concrete terms. Three -
4 year olds are in the middle of pre-operational thinking
stage and therefore are less sophisticated than the 5-7 year
old age group. Their attention spans and play sequences are
shorter and this age group will move relatively quickly from
one play scene/action to another.

Language And Play-Based Communication
By the age of 1, a child can initiate a topic by a combination
of glances and vocalizations. He can maintain one or two
turns between self and other and typically can demonstrate
one-half utterances on a topic mostly in reference to
routines. The content of communication is limited to what
is physically present. By age 2-3 years of age, a child can