Early Denver Model Curriculum

Checklist Modified Version

Key:

Level 1 (12-18 months)

Listener Responding

the response occurs every opportunity and without

prompts

the response occurs infrequently, occurs with prompts or

does not occur
no opportunity to assess or did not assess

N/A =

Localizes to sound by turning toward sound source.

N/A

Looks at indicted pictures as adult points to pictures in book.

N/A

Follows a proximal point to place objects in containers, puzzle pieces, etc.

N/A

Looks when shown an object and told, Name, look.

N/A

Follows distal point to retrieve toy

N/A

Responds by stopping actions momentarily in response to inhibitory words, (e.g., no,

stop).

N/A

Looks to playful vocal sounds (raspberry, whistle).

N/A

Looks, reaches, or smiles in response to adult gestures and voice in social games.

N/A

Looks, reaches or smiles and/or gestures in response to adult language/gestures in songs.

N/A

Accepts brief sensory social activities and touch.

N/A

Uses motor prompt to initiate or continue a sensory social routine.

N/A

Maintains engagement in sensory social routines for 2 minutes.

N/A

Responds to preferred objects/activities via gaze, reach, smiles, and movements.

N/A

Watches and engages with imitative adult during parallel toy play activities.

N/A

Has a repertoire of 5 10 sensory social games.

N/A

Responds to greeting by gesture or vocalization.

N/A

Interacts appropriately with family members (no aggression or other inappropriate

interactions).

N/A

Social

Mand
Asks for help by handling object to adult.

N/A

Expresses refusal by pushing away object or giving the object back to another person.

N/A

Points distally to request desired object.

N/A

Takes turns vocalizing with communication partner

N/A

Makes eye contact to obtain a desired object when adult blocks access/withholds desired
object.
Combines vocalization and gaze for intentional request.

N/A

N/A

Responds to greeting by looking, turning, etc.

N/A

Shares smiles with partner during coordinated play.

N/A

N/A

Plays independently with toys requiring repetition of the same action on various objects
+
(ring stacker, nesting cups).
Demonstrates appropriate play behaviors on a variety of one step toddler toys: throws
+
ball, stacks blocks, pegs in holes, rolls car.
Plays independently with toys requiring two different motor actions (e.g. take out, put in). +

N/A

N/A

N/A

Plays independently with toys requiring several different motor actions (e.g. put in, open,
remove, close).
Demonstrates conventional actions on self with a range of objects.

N/A

N/A

Completes play task and puts away.

N/A

Imitates 10 visible motor actions inside song/game routines.

N/A

Imitates invisible six motor actions on head, face inside song/game routines.

N/A

Social Pragmatics

Independent Play
Plays independently and appropriately with 10 one-step toys.

Motor Imitation

Fine Motor
2

Plays one to two shapes in a shape sorter.

N/A

Places rings on a ring stacker.

N/A

Completes three-piece wooden handle puzzle.

N/A

Puts pegs in a pegboard.

N/A

Pushes buttons on five different types of cause-effect toys

N/A

Takes apart pop beads, duplos.

N/A

Uses a pincer grasp and a three finger grasp as appropriate to toy.

N/A

Stacks three big blocks in a tower (or stacking cups).

N/A

Makes marks, lines, scribbles and dots with markers/crayons.

N/A

Bangs a toy hammer with palls, pegs, etc.

N/A

Scoops, rakes, pours with sand, water, rice etc.

N/A

Stacks big Legos.

N/A

Protects self when off balance.

N/A

Walks around objects on floor rather than stepping on them.

N/A

Rolls ball back and forth with another person.

N/A

Puts hands under running water.

N/A

Dries hands on towel.

N/A

Tolerates hair combing, nose wiping, and tooth brushing.

N/A

Puts tissues in trash.

N/A

Gross Motor

Personal Self Care

Level 2 (18-24 months)

3

Listener Responding
Follows instructions to stop or wait without prompts or gestures.

N/A

Retrieves 8 10 verbally requested objects in room but not directly in front of child,
requiring some search.

N/A

N/A

Physically initiates familiar social games.

N/A

Returns affection behaviors: hugs, losses to familiar others.

N/A

waves imitatively

N/A

Dances with another in circle games to music.

N/A

Runs with another in chase game.

N/A

Gains communication partners attention using name of person or game and initiates
social game or activity.
Joins in with familiar songs/finger games in a group setting.

N/A

N/A

Continues with activity when peer joins in parallel play.

N/A

Responds appropriately to peers greetings.

N/A

Takes turns with peer with simple action toys when peer requests; gives and takes back.

N/A

Plays picture-matching games (memory, lotto, etc) alone and with peer.

N/A

Shakes head and says no to refuse.

N/A

Nods head yes and says yes to affirm.

N/A

Asks for help verbally or gesturally.

N/A

Tact
Labels actions in context (e.g., during body movements and/or actions on objects).

Social

Mand

Social Pragmatics
4

Initiates and maintains eye contact for communication.

N/A

Uses gesture or words to attain adults attention

N/A

Consistently coordinates eye contact with vocalization and/or gesture to direct

communication

N/A

Spontaneously produces multiple words associated with a play routine (roll, go, stop).

N/A

Gets materials, brings to table, completes play tasks, and puts away

N/A

Combines related objects in play (cup on saucer, spoon on dish.

N/A

Imitates/produces sound effects with play (vocalizes on phone, makes car noises, animal
sounds with animals).
Carries out single action with a prop on a doll or animal.

N/A

N/A

Combines functionally related actions on a play theme (feeds and gives drinks, puts to
bed and covers up).
Demonstrates a trial and error approach to problem solving with constructive toys;
schemas are flexible not repetitive.

N/A

N/A

Responds to look and offered object with gaze shift, body, turn and looks offended at
object
Responds to look and point by orientating to the indicated distal object/person.

N/A

N/A

Gives or takes object from other person coordinated with eye contact

N/A

Responds to show me by extending object to adult

N/A

Spontaneously shows objects

N/A

Spontaneously follows point or gaze (no verbal cue) to look at target

N/A

Spontaneously points to interesting object.

N/A

Shares smile with adult with alternating gaze during pleasurable object activity

N/A

Independent Play

Pretend/Imaginative Play

Joint Attention

Motor Imitation
5

Imitates actions on objects - multiple steps (play actions).

N/A

Imitates pretend play acts to self and partner with miniatures.

N/A

Passes containers when instructed.

N/A

Takes off jacket, hat (no fasteners) and puts on hook.

N/A

Wipes nose when instructed.

N/A

Participates in all steps of hand washing.

N/A

Personal Self Care

Level 3 (24-36 months)

6

Listener Responding
Delivers a simple message to another person (Go tell Mommy Hi).

N/A

Receptively identifies affect (happy, sad, mad, scared) from photos, in others, and/or in
line drawing.

N/A

Gestures or vocalizes I dont know in context.

N/A

Says Hi and Bye-Bye appropriately, both initiating and in response

N/A

Expressively identifies affect from photos, in others and/or in line drawings

N/A

Gestures or vocalizes I dont know in context.

N/A

Says Hi and Bye-Bye appropriately, both initiating and in response

N/A

Plays simple gross motor games (e.g., ball, Hide and Seek, Ring-around-the-Rosy).

N/A

Shares and shows objects when partner requests.

N/A

Takes turns with simple board games.

N/A

Uses politeness terms, Please, Thank you, Excuse me, sorry.

N/A

N/A

N/A

Tact

Intraverbal

Social

Mand
Asks simple yes/no questions using rising intonation (can be one-word utterance with
rising intonation)

Social Pragmatics
Consistently uses other peoples names to get their attention.

Facial expressions correspond to context (happy, sad, mad. scared)

N/A

Constructive Play involves sequencing complex schemas with multiple coordinated

objects (e.g., trucks on road, blocks make building, beads make a necklace).
links three or more related actions in a play sequence

N/A

N/A

Performs two or more linked actions on a doll or animal when instructed.

N/A

Physically places figures on miniature furniture on vehicles, etc when appropriate.

N/A

Carries out actions on doll or animal figures spontaneously.

N/A

Arranges props for the theme.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Sequences three or more pictures in correct order and narrates sequence for pictures using +
first, then language.

N/A

Independent Play

Joint Attention
Frequency draws others attention to objects verbally and gesturally to comment show
share and request.
Responds to others bids for joint attention by looking and commenting.

Visual Performance
Plays games involving memory for hidden objects.

Personal Self Care

Carries own material to and from car, school, and home.

N/A

Opens and closes backpack independently, puts in and removes objects when requested.

N/A

Uses toilet independently, all steps when taken or sent.

N/A

Manages clothing at toilet except for fasteners.

N/A

Completes all the hand washing steps independently.

N/A

Covers mouth when coughing and sneezing.

N/A

Level 4 (36 48 months)

Listener Responding
Receptively Id same and different.

N/A

Responds to yes/no questions for identity.

N/A

Uses words to describe physical states

N/A

N/A

Seeks out others for comfort in group situations.

N/A

Expresses own feelings appropriately.

N/A

Takes turns in informal play independently.

N/A

Describes an event or experience to peer.

N/A

Identifies what makes self feel happy, sad, mad scared.

N/A

Identifies others emotions based on situational factors.

N/A

Begins to develop coping strategies when feeling upset, mad or scared.

N/A

Plays typical motor games (e.g. red light, green light, red rover, freeze tag.

N/A

N/A

Tact

Intraverbal
Responds to yes/no questions for identity.

Social

Social Pragmatics
Expresses I dont know paired with gesture

Pretend/Imaginative Play
9

Demonstrates actions of figures in play.

N/A

Uses placeholder items to symbolize props in play.

N/A

Labels actions and pretend props in play.

N/A

Spontaneously links three or more related behaviors in a play theme.

N/A

Directs partner in play.

N/A

Plays out several life event (e.g. birthday party, McDonalds, doctor) including use of
verbal scripts.
Plays out several story themes in play.

N/A

N/A

Takes on a character role and plays it out.

N/A

Follows anothers lead in play.

N/A

N/A

Manages all steps involved in toilet training independently at the level of peers.

N/A

Washes hands independently at level of peers.

N/A

Blows nose when cued, uses tissue to catches sneezes, covers cough and sneeze.

N/A

Gross Motor
Plays various games with balls; throws ball in basket, hits t-ball with bat, bounces ball,
golf club, beanbag toss.

Personal Self Care

10