Early Bird Learning Guide™

The Early Bird Learning Guide™ is a system to help parents select the right books at the right time and understand which skills they’re reinforcing when they read a Cottage Door book with their little ones. The guide is based on widely accepted milestones of childhood development and corresponds to the age grade on each of our books.
 
  Welcome to the world, little one!

Social & Emotional
• Recognizes parents' voices, faces, and scents
• Smiles in response to other people
• Makes strong eye contact when held face to face

Cognitive & Language
• Coos and babbles, especially when being talked to or sung to
• Recognizes own name
• Shows interest in simple picture books

Physical & Motor
• Holds head up and steady when being held
• Sits with support, then independently
• Reaches out and grasps objects

  Your baby is hungry for learning.

 
Social & Emotional
• Follows your attention when looking at something
• Enjoys “peek-a-boo” and other surprises
• “Shows off” when rewarded with smiles and attention

Cognitive & Language
• Holds a book and vocalizes or pats pictures while being read to
• Understands object categories, like “cars” and “animals”
• Says first words, like “dog” or “ball”

Physical & Motor
• Begins holding objects between thumb and forefinger (pincer grasp)
• Claps hands and crawls 
• May take first steps without help

   Your baby wants to try new things.

Social & Emotional
• Displays affection in hugs, kisses, and smiles
• Shows distress when they face a challenge
• Knows when a parent likes or dislikes certain behavior

Cognitive & Language
• Vocabulary grows rapidly, from a few words to dozens
• Recognizes familiar sequences of events, such as bath time, story time, bedtime
• Understands simple instructions

Physical & Motor
• Eats with a spoon or fork
• Responds to music by bouncing or dancing
• Plays with toys that can be pushed or pulled while walking

  Your baby is ready to fly!

Social & Emotional
• Begins to say no to many things
• Experiences emotional highs and lows
• Demonstrates a strong desire for independence

Cognitive & Language
• Vocabulary explodes, adding up to eight new words every day
• Tries to hum or sing
• Enjoys turning the pages of a book and filling in words of stories

Physical & Motor
• Improves fine motor skills, such as scribbling with a crayon
• Opens drawers and crawls inside cabinets
• Scoots around on small riding toys

   Your little one is ready to explore.

Social & Emotional
• Begins to talk about feelings and tries to control them
• Likes to help with household tasks
• Engages in pretend play with props

Cognitive & Language
• Wants to hear the same story again and again
• Names familiar objects with the correct word
• Begins to use logic and understands opposites

Physical & Motor
• Runs and walks smoothly
• Begins to draw pictures and letters
• Progresses toward toilet training

  Your little one is spreading his wings!

Social & Emotional
• Engages in pretend social play, like “You be the mommy”
• Enjoys peers, but play is still not truly interactive
• Begins learning to take turns and share

Cognitive & Language
• Loves books and can converse about them
• Uses pronouns in simple sentences
• Understands “if-then” statements

Physical & Motor
• Undresses herself, but needs help dressing
• Hops and jumps by himself
• Is able to draw a circle

  Story time is family time!

Social & Emotional
• Strengthens family bonds
• Supports a literate home environment
• Creates lifetime memories

Cognitive & Language
• Supports future writing skills
• Reinforces language patterns
• Introduces communication and discussion skills