Prime Areas

Enjoy singing, music and toys that make sounds.

Listen and respond to a simple instruction.

Make sounds to get attention. For example, crying when hungry or unhappy and laughing or babbling when they are happy or excited.

Use sounds like ‘baba and ‘mamama’ when babbling.

Use gestures like waving and pointing to communicate.

Reach or point while making sounds to show they want something.

Copy adult’s gestures and words.

Babble and use single words when playing.

Change their intonation, pitch and volume when ‘talking’.

Understand single words such as ‘cup’, ‘milk’, ‘daddy’ when they are used in meaningful situations.

Understand frequently used words such as ‘all gone’, ‘no’ and ‘bye-bye’.

Understand simple instructions like: “Give to nanny” or “Stop”.

Recognise and point to objects when asked about them.

When leading a ‘conversation’, communicate using sounds, looks or with words.

Children learn and develop best when they receive consistent, loving, warm, and responsive care.

Children are beginning to develop their sense of self through interactions with key adults and other important people.

They show their likes and dislikes through behaviour, gestures, or expressions.

Some children may seek a special object or extra physical reassurance, such as cuddles, to feel safe and happy.

They are learning to cope with feelings of sadness when separated from familiar adults.

Children communicate their needs using eye contact, gestures, and words—for example, pointing to or looking at a cup to indicate they want a drink

Children gradually become more confident around a wider group of people.

When comforted, children appear calm and reassured. They respond positively to smiles and encouragement from familiar adults.

Children are developing confidence to play independently and alongside other children.

When exploring new environments with a key adult, children begin to show curiosity and confidence.

Feeling safe and secure with their key adult allows children to express a wide range of emotions.

Children are becoming increasingly independent, which may sometimes lead to frustration when they want to do things by themselves.

Experiment with moving both indoors and outdoors.

Develop their coordination by reaching out for different objects.

Pass things from one hand to another and give things to an adult.

Practice dropping things from different heights e.g., when sat on a chair or from the top of the stairs.

Control their whole body when practising skills such as waving, kicking, rolling, crawling and walking.

Clap and stamp to music.

Explore and move around in spaces they can fit into such as large boxes, dens and tunnels.

Learn how to kick, throw and catch balls.