Approaches to Learning
The "learning to learn" skills that shape how a child engages with people, materials, and ideas: curiosity and initiative, attention and executive function, working memory, and persistence. These dispositions describe how a child approaches a task rather than what they feel about it, and they are distinct from the relationship and emotion skills of social-emotional development.
Ages 0–72 months
Skills
Explores With Senses and Actions
Infant actively investigates objects and surroundings by looking, mouthing, reaching, banging, and shaking.
Focuses Attention Child sustains attention on a chosen activity for a developmentally appropriate stretch, resisting minor distractions.
Shows Curiosity and Asks Questions Child notices novel or puzzling things and seeks more information by exploring, commenting, and asking questions.
Holds Information in Mind Child keeps a small amount of information active in memory and uses it to guide a short sequence of actions.
Persists Through Challenges Child keeps working toward a goal after setbacks, trying new strategies rather than giving up.
Early Atlas