Ready and Together
Parent reflects on twelve social-emotional readiness milestones from MELQO at 36-72mo: planning ahead, stopping on request, social intrusiveness, activity level, environmental exploration, transition adjustment, settling down, sitting still, self-control in sharing, consideration for others' feelings, helping, and sharing willingly.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
No materials. Parent reflects on recent child behaviour.
How it works
- 1~90s
Four self-regulation questions. First: does your child plan before starting an activity — arranging materials, thinking through steps, or choosing where to do it — rather than diving in immediately? Second: when you say 'stop' or 'wait', does your child actually stop within 5 seconds? Or does they ignore it and continue? Third: when engaged in exciting play — running, tickling, silly games — can your child settle down and return to calm within a few minutes when you ask? Fourth: can your child sit still for a meal, a short story, or a structured activity for at least 5-10 minutes without constant squirming or getting up? Tell me each.
Watch for: Child plans ahead before beginning an activity
- 2~90s
Three questions about exploration and transitions. First: when your child is in a new place — a new playground, a relative's home, a new classroom — does they explore freely and confidently? Or does they stay close and hesitate for a long time? Second: does your child adjust easily when the plan changes — a cancelled outing, a different routine, an unexpected activity? Or are transitions and changes very disruptive? Third: is your child's activity level generally appropriate — not overactive and disruptive, not underactive and withdrawn? Is your child able to calibrate arousal to the setting? Tell me.
Watch for: Child freely explores new environments
- 3~90s
Four questions about social behaviour. First: does your child intrude rudely on adults or other children when they're engaged in something — interrupting, grabbing, pushing in? Or does they wait, ask, or find another way? Second: when sharing is required — a toy, food, time with a caregiver — does your child share willingly, or is every sharing opportunity a battle? Third: does your child show self-control when interacting — not hitting, not grabbing, not yelling — even when frustrated? Fourth: does your child show consideration for others' feelings — noticing when someone is sad, offering comfort, adjusting behaviour? And does your child offer to help someone who seems to need it? Tell me.
Watch for: Child does not rudely intrude on others
What this develops
- MilestonePlans ahead before beginning an activitysocial emotionalprimary
- MilestoneStops an activity when told to do sosocial emotionalprimary
- MilestoneDoes not rudely intrude on otherssocial emotionalprimary
- MilestoneMaintains appropriate activity level, not over-activesocial emotionalprimary
- MilestoneFreely explores new environmentssocial emotionalprimary
- MilestoneAdjusts easily to new situations and transitionssocial emotionalprimary
- MilestoneSettles down after periods of exciting activitysocial emotionalprimary
- MilestoneAble to sit still when appropriatesocial emotionalprimary
- MilestoneShows self-control when sharing or interactingsocial emotionalprimary
- MilestoneShows consideration for other people's feelingssocial emotionalprimary
- MilestoneOffers to help someone who seems to need itsocial emotionalprimary
- MilestoneShares with peers willinglysocial emotionalprimary