ABSTRACT
Social behaviour and play underpin future speech, language, communication and cognitive skills. Development in these areas is facilitated through social interaction with carers, and extends to others as the child's social environment broadens. The concept of ‘play’ has different meanings across cultures; therefore sensitivity may be required when discussing this domain with carers.
Typical developmental pattern
https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203491812/212a83f2-9784-4b39-853d-f733896179dc/content/fig9_85_1_C.jpg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/>Developing social responsiveness and anticipation.
Preference for attending to people/mother (soon after birth).
Social smile (6–8 weeks).
Interactive imitation of smiles, facial expressions and sounds (6–8 weeks).
Responds to social games such as peek-a-boo and shows anticipation (6 months).
Developing joint attention (a crucial step for the development of language and communication skills).
Follows others' finger point to look at an object (8 months).
Uses finger and eye pointing to direct others' attention to share interest (9–12 months).
Becoming stranger-aware — reacting by withdrawing or crying (7–8 months).
Social referencing — checking back by looking towards the caregiver in new situations (12 months).
Exploration of toys and objects: looking closely, touching, mouthing and banging (5–6 months)
Playing with pop-up and action toys with emerging understanding of cause-and-effect (8–9 months).
Functional use of toys and objects, e.g. ‘talking’ on the phone and putting a hat on self (12 months) and on others, e.g. doll, mother (15 months).
Systematic enquiry
