Playbright 24 - 36 Months

Sensing & Moving

24-36 months Big Muscles m Climbs up onto a platform and goes down a small slide, with help. . . . . . . . . . m Catches a large ball with body and both hands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Walks up, and then later down, the stairs with two feet on each step. . . . . . . . m Jumps from the bottom step and lands on two feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Stands, walks, and in a few months, runs on tiptoes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Walks in a straight line for a few feet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Pushes toys around obstacles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Jumps forward, then later, sideways and backward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Walks backward for several feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Throws a ball overhand from 5 to 7 feet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Stands on one foot for a few seconds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Jumps 2-8 inches high. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Runs, avoiding obstacles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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24-36 months Small Muscles m Holds large crayon with thumb and index finger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Holds and snips with child-size scissors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Builds a tower of 6, and then later, up to 9 blocks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Lines up 2-3 cubes in a row and, later, copies a 3-block bridge. . . . . . . m Strings 3, then up to 5, large beads with 1-inch holes. . . . . . . . . . . . m Takes toys apart and puts them together — like snap-together blocks. . . . m Screws and unscrews jars with lids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Pounds pegs into and out of workbench. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m May show hand preference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Imitates drawing lines — like vertical, horizontal, and plus sign (l, —, +) . . m Imitates or copies drawing of a circle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Dresses self with help — like putting on shirt, coat, pants, or shoes . . . . . m Unbuttons large buttons, then several months later, buttons them. . . . . . m Uses eating utensils and napkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Pours liquid from a small cup or pitcher, with some spilling . . . . . . . . . .

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13

Building Blocks: I am born with 100 billion brain cells, also called neurons. That’s a lot! With each experience I have, these neurons begin to connect with each other. These connections form the wiring in my brain that will shape my thinking, feeling, and behavior. By the time I am 5, a large part of the architecture, or basic wiring, of my brain is complete.

Windows of Opportunity: Feeling & Connecting Research shows that when you nurture me and form a strong relationship with me, I learn to trust you and feel secure. From you I learn to name my feelings and calm down when I am upset. Spending time with you helps me make connections between my feelings and thinking. You really help when I can learn from watching what you do. Please be patient, as it takes a long time and lots of practice before I can manage my feelings.

Feeling & Connecting May show dependent behavior — like clinging or whining. Likes to play next to another person.

Enc

gs on my own. Guide me if ne cessa to do thin e m e g ry. oura

Sensing & Moving Climbs up onto a platform, and goes down a small slide, with help. Catches a large ball with body and both hands. Place the ball at the top of a small slide. Encourage me to climb up. Watch me closely. Now, roll the ball down the slide. Hold on to me as I try to slide down the slide. Wheee … that’s fun. Let’s go get the ball and do it again! Show me how to put my arms out, elbows bent a little. Place a large soft ball into my arms, help me bring my arms back toward my body to hold the ball. Repeat until I can hold the ball on my own. Next, gently toss the ball into my arms so I can catch it. Tell me how well I am catching the ball. I need lots of practice. Do you know where we can go to slide down a slide? Is there a park, mall, or schoolyard with a small slide nearby? I like to catch balls of different sizes and textures. Let’s start with large balls that are soft. With practice, I will be able to use just my hands to catch different kinds of balls. 22