I Learn Who I Am
•
I learn about my body.
• I suck on my fingers or hands.
• I study them.
• I discover that my hands and feet are part
of me.
• I can move them.
• I learn to trust your love.
• I learn I can depend on you if you come when
I cry.
• I feel secure when you hold me in your arms.
• I feel good when you smile at me.
• I learn my world is safe to explore when you
watch over me.
• I learn to comfort myself.
• I may suck my fingers or hands; it soothes
me.
• As I grow, I can wait a few minutes because
I have learned you will always come.
• I can make things happen.
• I can shake a rattle and make a sound.
• I can kick a mobile and make it move.
• I can smile and you will smile back at me.
I
Learn About My Feelings
•
I can show you many
feelings: pleasure, anger, fear, sadness, excitement
and joy.
• I smile and wiggle to show you I like playing
with you.
• I frown or cry when you stop paying attention
or playing with me.
• I laugh aloud sometimes with a belly laugh.
• Sometimes I need you to help me with my feelings.
• I need you to try to understand how I feel.
• I need you to comfort me when I am upset or
frightened.
• I need you to protect me when I feel overwhelmed.
• I share my deepest feelings. I know and trust
you.
• My smile is brightest for you.
• Sometimes I cry when you pick me up at childcare.
Sometimes it's because I've missed you. Sometimes
I'm just fussy. I know you'll understand.
• I can protest strongly when I am upset. I
know you will be there for me no matter what.
• I'll show you more of my feelings than I may
show others.
I Learn About People, Objects
and How Things Work
•
I can tell the difference between
people I know and people I do not know.
• I recognize my parents' voices.
• I relax more when I am with you and other
people I know.
• I sometimes am afraid of strangers.
• I prefer the special people in my life such
as my mom, my dad or my grandmother. I may begin to
act differently and fearful of strangers, even at
this young age.
• I sometimes cry if a stranger gets too close
to me or looks at me directly in the eyes.
• I may cry or cling to you until I know I am
safe with a new person.
• I like to be with you.
• I like to be held by you.
• I like to play with you. You are more interesting
than all my toys.
• I like you to talk softly and smile at me.
I smile and "talk" back to you.
• You are the most important person in my life.
• I learn about how the world works.
• I like to look around and see new things.
• I like to play games with you, like peek-a-boo
and hide-n-seek.
• When I want you to keep playing knee ride,
I know I should keep bouncing up and down.
I Learn To Move and Do
•
At first, my body moves automatically.
• I search for something to suck.I turn my head
when something blocks my breathing.
• I turn my head or close my eyes when it is
too bright.
• Within a few months, I begin to learn to use
my fingers and hands.
• I put my hand and objects in my mouth.
• I can hold something, let go, and get hold
of it again.
• I can move an object from one hand to another.
• Over time, I move my body with purpose.
• I can hold my head up.
• I can roll over.
• I can sit without your help.
• I have favorite positions. But I like change!
It feels good to move from being on my back to my
stomach to sitting up.
• I can crawl by myself.
• I may even be able to stand up if I hold on
to you.
I Learn To Communicate
and Relate
•
I can tell you things even as a newborn.
• I cry to tell you I need you.
• I communicate through the expressions on my
face and gestures.
• I have different cries, facial expressions
and body movements to tell you I am sleepy, hungry,
wet, frightened, uncomfortable or just need a break.
• Within a few months, I develop new ways to
communicate.
• I learn to make many different sounds. I laugh.
• I use my sounds, change the expression on
my face and move around to get your attention.
• Sometimes I may just listen to you I love
to hear your voice.
• I learn to babble.
• I make some of the sounds that I hear you
use.
• Sometimes I try to imitate you. I like you
to imitate my sounds too.
• My babbling can even start to sound like adult
speech...a question, an exclamation, a request, a
song...
• I like to "talk" with you even though I don't
yet speak real words.
• I may catch your eye and smile to tell you
I am ready to communicate with you.
• I pay attention to the tone of your voice
and the expressions on your face when you talk with
me.
• I stretch my arms toward you when I want you
to pick me up.
• I look at you when I am ready to play. When
I close my eyes or turn my head away, I am telling
you I need a break. • I learn how much fun language
can be when you talk, sing and read with me.
