Video Transcript
Narrator: In the Cognitive Development domain, the strand Imitation and Symbolic Thinking includes the foundation Symbolic Thinking. Children from 4 through 11 months become familiar with objects and actions through active exploration. Children also build knowledge of people, actions, objects, and ideas through observation.
Example 1
Text on screen: Becomes familiar with objects through active exploration
On screen: 10-month-old Audrey sits on the floor. She holds an empty cup with both hands as she mouths it. Her caregiver speaks to her from off screen.
Caregiver 1: Mmmm, yummy. Num num num num num yummy.
Audrey: (vocalizing)
On screen: The caregiver leans in closer, her face at Audrey’s eye level.
Caregiver 1: You’re drinking the water? Oh. Oh, oh. Mmm. (laughing)
On screen: Audrey looks back at the caregiver while mouthing the cup, moving it around so she can feel different parts of it. Audrey continues mouthing the cup as she looks around the room.
Example 2
Text on screen: Becomes familiar with objects and actions through observation and active exploration
On screen: 9-month-old Aaliyah sits on her caregiver’s lap in front of a mirror. The caregiver shows Aaliyah stuffies from a basket in front of them. Aaliyah’s gaze follows the caregiver’s hand as she picks up a bunny, then a cow.
Caregiver 2: There’s bunny. There’s a cow. Cow? Moo. Yeah.
On screen: Aaliyah reaches for the cow and stares at it. She briefly looks away and then stares at the cow again. Aaliyah takes the cow with both hands and raises it to her face. She begins to mouth at the cow’s head. She looks around her and notices her reflection in the mirror.
Caregiver 2: Cow. Looking above you?
On screen: Aaliyah smiles at her reflection. She holds the cow out toward the mirror and shakes it.
Example 3
Text on screen: Becomes familiar with objects through active exploration
On screen: 9-month-old Skye kneels on the floor holding a toy with consisting of two pegs and sets of rings. She holds on to the pegs and lifts and turns the toy.
Skye lets go of the peg toy and looks around. She crawls toward a couple of sheer scarves. She picks them up with both hands and sits up on her knees and holds the scarves over her head. Then she begins to tug on them and waves them around with both hands. When her hand touches the peg toy behind her, it catches her attention again.
Skye lets go of the scarves and begins touching the peg toy. She holds the toy by the pegs and then touches the rings on one peg. She pulls a ring off the peg, then several more. She examines the rings in her hands then tosses them aside. She places one hand on top of the peg and tries to pull a ring off with the other. She realizes she needs to move her hand off the peg to get the ring off. She pulls the next ring off and drops it. It takes her several tries to pull off the last ring.
Example 4
Text on screen: Becomes familiar with objects through observation and active exploration
On screen: 11-month-old Ke’Ontae is sitting on the floor playing with a toy helicopter that is lying on its side. He attempts to spin the main helicopter rotors, but they hit the floor. Ke’Ontae discovers that the smaller tail rotor moves freely. He begins slapping at it, which spins the rotor and causes the toy to tip and slide on the floor.