Learning Guidelines
Massachusetts Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers
The purpose for these guidelines, developed by the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children for the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) in 2010, is to provide a comprehensive view of the development of infants and toddlers while documenting the experiences that support this development. The guidelines are for parents as well as early education and care professionals.
The first three years of life are a time of rapid brain development and learning. This time becomes critically important for infants and toddlers as they develop foundations for learning. As their children’s first teachers, parents have the greatest impact on their children’s lives.
Early learning and development are multidimensional. Developmental domains (categories or dimensions of children’s learning and development) are highly interrelated. Development in one domain influences development in other domains.
For more information about the guidelines, including definitions of terms, visit http://www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/curriculum-and-learning/.
The Reading activities focus on the following domains:
For Babies
Language and Communication Development
- Demonstrates the meaning of language by listening.
- Develops expressive language.
- Engages in social communication.
- Engages in pre-reading activities.
- Demonstrates interest and engagement in print literacy materials.
- Develops in multiple language acquisitions when considered a dual language learner.
Cognitive Development
- Becomes aware of family and others in the community.
Social and Emotional Development
- Relates to, trusts, and becomes attached to consistent educators.
- Acts as a social being by engaging with others and the world around them.
- Experiences and expresses a range of emotions.
- Develops a positive sense of self.
Approaches to Learning
- Shows eagerness and curiosity as a learner.
- Becomes intentional and persistent in their learning and discovery.
For Toddlers
Language and Communication Development
- Demonstrates understanding of spoken (or signed) language.
- Develops expressive language.
- Engages in social communication.
- Uses language to ask questions and tell stories.
- Demonstrates phonological awareness in language play.
- Develops grammar and syntax.
- Engages in pre-reading activities.
- Demonstrates interest and engagement in print literacy materials.
- Develops vocabulary, syntax, and socially-appropriate communication in both languages when considered a dual language learner.
- Learns control over their movements as they reach out and grasp objects.
Cognitive Development
- Develops increasing memory of past events and knowledge.
- Becomes aware of family and others in the community.
- Begins to develop the foundations for social science.
Social and Emotional Development
- Relates to, trusts, and becomes attached to consistent educators.
- Experiences and expresses a range of emotions.
- Progresses in regulating own feelings and behavior.
- Develops a positive sense of self.
Approaches to Learning
- Shows eagerness and curiosity as a learner.
- Becomes intentional and persistent in their learning and discovery.