Supporting your Preschooler: A Parent’s Guide to Early Childhood Skills
Starting preschool is an important milestone for both children and their families. It’s an exciting time filled with a lot of growth, learning, and new experiences. As a parent, you may be curious to learn more about this stage of development and what to expect. Below, we will discuss the skills that children acquire in preschool and share practical tips for what you can do at home to support your child.
Essential Skills Children Develop in Preschool
A high-quality preschool provides young children with a safe, supportive, and engaging environment that promotes their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Preschool is typically play-based and helps children build foundational skills and knowledge that prepare them for success in school and beyond. Below is an overview of the skills and concepts that your child will learn:
Early Academic Skills: Through playful activities and hands-on experiences, preschoolers begin to build early literacy and numeracy skills, including a basic understanding of letters, sounds, numbers, shapes, and colors.
Social-Emotional Skills: In preschool, children have many opportunities to interact with peers and adults. They practice sharing, taking turns, and engaging in cooperative play. They also gain experience with managing and discussing their emotions, adapting to new environments, resolving conflicts, and following classroom routines.
Language & Communication Skills: In preschool, children enhance their ability to express themselves and communicate their needs, wants, and thoughts effectively. They also improve listening skills by participating in conversations, listening to stories, answering questions, and following simple directions.
Self-Care Skills : Preschool is a time when children gain independence in managing their personal needs. This includes things like practicing personal hygiene (using the bathroom, washing their hands), managing their own materials (packing their own backpacks, cleaning up classroom materials), and dressing themselves (putting on coats & shoes).
Fine and Gross Motor Skills: In preschool, children engage in play and activities that help them develop both fine and gross motor skills. Fine motor skills involve small muscles and include tasks like holding a pencil correctly, cutting with scissors, and fastening a button. Gross motor skills involve large muscles and include skills like running, jumping, balancing, and climbing.
School-Readiness and Approaches to Learning: High-quality preschool programs encourage curiosity, enthusiasm, and creativity, and they help children develop a positive approach to learning. Through hands-on activities and imaginative play, children learn to explore their environment, ask questions, and develop problem-solving skills. Additionally, preschool activities help children concentrate on tasks for longer periods, building their attention span and perseverance.
Tips for Supporting Your Child’s Preschool Learning at Home
Now you might be wondering, what can I do to support my child’s development during this time? Here are some simple, practical tips that you can try at home!
Read Together Daily: Reading to your child and discussing the story enhances language skills, comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking. It also fosters a love for reading and learning. When reading, try pausing every so often to ask questions, talk about the characters and their feelings, share facts that you learn, and make predictions.
Foster Independence: Allow your child to try tasks on their own, like dressing, tying shoes, and cleaning up after themselves. Model the steps involved and provide support when necessary, but make sure to give them opportunities to make mistakes and problem-solve.
Incorporate Learning into Play: Create opportunities for your child to learn through play. Provide a variety of toys, games, puzzles, and activities that promote exploration and discovery. Playful learning can build academic and cognitive skills in a stress-free and enjoyable way.
Promote a Positive Learning Attitude: Praise your child’s efforts and persistence. Encourage curiosity and celebrate their achievements, no matter how small.
Provide Opportunities for Social Interaction: Arrange playdates or group activities to help your child practice interacting with others. Model things like sharing, taking turns, compromising, and understanding the feelings of others.
Encourage Physical Activity: Provide opportunities for your child to engage in both fine and gross motor activities, such as drawing, painting or cutting, building with blocks, running, and climbing.
By supporting your child’s early development in these areas, you’ll help them build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success. Just remember, every child is unique and develops at their own pace! If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s development, you can always reach out to your child’s teacher or pediatrician to learn more.
Literacy Specialist
