Foundation: Social Understanding
California Infant/Toddler Learning & Development Foundations.While the California Department of Education continues to operate the California State Preschool Program, the Early Childhood Development Act of 2020 (Senate Bill (SB) 98, Chapter 24, Statutes of 2020) authorized the transfer of many childcare programs from the California Department of Education to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) effective July 1, 2021. The content on this page may include programs that have moved to CDSS. For additional assistance you can either visit the CDSS Child Care Transition web page
or call 1-833-559-2420 for more information.
The developing understanding of the responses, communication, emotional expressions, and actions of other people
8 months | 18 months | 36 months |
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At around eight months of age, children have learned what to expect from familiar people, understand what to do to get another’s attention, engage in back-and-forth interactions with others, and imitate the simple actions or facial expressions of others. |
At around 18 months of age, children know how to get the infant care teacher to respond in a specific way through gestures, vocalizations, and shared attention; use another’s emotional expressions to guide their own responses to unfamiliar events; and learn more complex behavior through imitation. Children also engage in more complex social interactions and have developed expectations for a greater number of familiar people. |
At around 36 months of age, children can talk about their own wants and feelings and those of other people, describe familiar routines, participate in coordinated episodes of pretend play with peers, and interact with adults in more complex ways. |
For example, the child may:
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For example, the child may:
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For example, the child may:
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Behaviors leading up to the foundation (4 to 7 months) During this period, the child may:
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Behaviors leading up to the foundation (9 to 17 months) During this period, the child may:
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Behaviors leading up to the foundation (19 to 35 months) During this period, the child may:
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References for the Social-Emotional Development Domain