Skill
Uses Objects as Symbols
Child uses one object to stand for another and understands that symbols can carry meaning.
Ages 12–36 months
Why it matters
Letting a block "be" a car or a towel "be" a blanket is symbolic thinking, the same mental leap that underlies language, drawing, and reading. Representing one thing with another is the seed of abstract thought and imaginative play.
Builds toward this milestone
- uses objects or symbols to represent something else. — Head Start ELOF
What mastery looks like
- Uses a toy object in a way similar to the real object it represents.
- Uses one object to stand for a different object during pretend play.
- Improvises with props, such as using a towel for a blanket.
How to observe it
- Does the child use an object to stand for something else in play?
- Does the child treat a picture or sign as if it means something?
Accessibility
- Offer open-ended objects with varied textures so symbolic play is not vision-dependent.
- Model one substitution at a time for children who need a clear example.
Activities
Evidence
- Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs (4th ed.) — National Association for the Education of Young Children · 2022 · National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Early Atlas