Skill
Seeks Help from Adults
Infant or toddler communicates needs and asks familiar adults for help.
Ages 6–36 months
Why it matters
Learning to use an adult as a resource — through crying, pointing, leading, or words — builds the child's sense that they can act on the world and get needs met. It is the root of help-seeking, communication, and growing independence.
Builds toward this milestone
- learns to use adults as a resource to meet needs. — Head Start ELOF
What mastery looks like
- Communicates a need with a behavior such as crying, reaching, pointing, leading, or words.
- Seeks a familiar adult's help with a difficult task or situation.
How to observe it
- When the child wants something out of reach, do they signal or ask an adult?
- Does the child take an adult's hand or lead them to what they need?
Accessibility
- Accept any communication mode — gesture, sign, picture cards, vocalizations, or words.
- Respond consistently to early signals so the child learns help-seeking pays off.
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