Imitation and evidence of observation is now seen regularly in Jasmine's play. She sits with her arms folded alongside Daddy, unloads the washing machine on her own initiative and has been observed holding her jacket up high in imitation of an ironed shirt being hung on a door-frame.
When called away from her play she automatically places whatever she is playing with in the toy box, even if the floor is strewn with other items.
Jasmine likes to help the adults in her life and loves being in the garden.
She helps pick up leaves and twigs to put in Grandad's sack and enjoys using the garden broom.
She shakes her head if she doesn't want to do something, saying 'Nonono', but can usually be coaxed quite easily. New language includes, 'Oh no', or 'Oh dear' when something goes wrong, using wonderful emphasis and expression. She also says, 'ball' and calls out excitedly when she sees the dog on the Tweenies television programme, which she calls 'Doodles-doddod-voofvoof'.
QUESTIONS.
1 Jasmine has begun to enjoy using crayons. What drawing actions might she be making?
2 Jasmine enjoys watching occasional television programmes alongside Mummy.
In what way is this adult involvement important to Jasmine's development?
ANSWERS TO PART 22 QUESTIONS (20 February).
1 When encouraging a child of Jasmine's age to help dress themselves, ideally the adult will allow time for them to try, give them lots of praise for their efforts, and provide clothing items without complex fastenings.
2 Frustration in a toddler is best handled by keeping calm yourself, offering them help, but ensuring you are maintaining their involvement. At this stage in their development they can usually visualise what they want to achieve but often they are not yet sufficiently well co-ordinated to achieve it.
3 Jasmine's developing language is likely to involve additional new words each week, with the increased use of two-word phrases.
By Sandy Green, an early years consultant and freelance trainer. She is also Jasmine's grandmother
