Originally Posted by Unregistered:
Can she hear you? That might make her watch, but not understand you.
That was one of my first thoughts too. But as soon as I give the 5 minute warning that were going to get ready for outside/circle/whatever activity she'll start to melt down. I do use a lot of hand motions (I usually work with large groups of children when it's not pandemic time) but even if my hands are full and I can't motion or sign when I tell her I can't pick her up right now she completely understands that, too.
I've noticed at pick up and drop off that her parents will ask her to do something and she'll do the blank stare. They'll ask a few times then just do it themselves whereas I ask twice then I hand-over-hand or physically direct the children into completing the task. She freaks out when I do this so I try to keep my requests small and quick, but I'm not sure how much of her resistance is because she doesn't understand vs she just doesn't want to do it.