Skill
Draws on Memory to Guide Action
Child uses memories of past experiences to anticipate routines and carry out remembered actions.
Ages 6–36 months
Why it matters
Using memory as a guide for what to do next is the engine of learning. When a child recalls how an object works or what comes next in a routine, they begin to plan, sequence, and build new actions on prior experience.
Builds toward this milestone
- uses memories as a foundation for more complex actions and thoughts. — Head Start ELOF
What mastery looks like
- Anticipates familiar routines by taking action, such as going to the table at mealtime.
- Remembers how to use an object from a previous experience.
- Tells others about a memory or repeats a series of actions seen earlier.
How to observe it
- Does the child get ready for the next routine before being asked?
- Does the child recall and repeat an action they watched earlier?
Accessibility
- Pair routines with a consistent song, sign, or picture cue to support recall.
- Give extra time for children who need longer to retrieve a memory.
Activities
Evidence
- Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) — U.S. Office of Head Start · 2015 · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Early Atlas