Page 105 - Meeting with Children Book

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introduce a topic and can engage in a short dialogue,
usually scaffolded by an adult.

Preschoolers demonstrate emerging language and
communication skills, symbolic play ability, cognitive
development (generalization and thinking in categories,
increased memory, increased awareness of causality),
increased self-regulation (ability to imagine and anticipate
consequences of behavior), increased internalization of
moral values and self-monitoring and an increased sense of
self that grows out of competence and autonomy. When
working with preschoolers, expressive and creative play-
based activities are essential and are the primary form of
communication. Play and expressive-based approaches are
therefore the fundamental skill set necessary for
practitioners working with this age band (Yasenik &
Gardner, 2017).

What Can Be Expected From A Normally
Developing 1.5-4 Year Old?
Look for the following:
1 yr plus Child can engage in constructive play
(constructing something with an end
goal in mind)
2- 4 yrs plus Child can engage in increasing
representational/symbolic play.
Symbolic play includes an increasing use
of abstract representations of actual
objects as well as use of imaginary
objects. By 2 years old for instance, the
child can also use multi-scheme
combinations such as feed a doll with a
bottle, pat the doll on the back and put
it to bed. By 3- 4 years, the child can
use imaginary objects in play and act
out sequences with miniature dolls