The preschool years are filled with new abilities and learning experiences! Preschoolers generally love to experiment, play, and imagine. They need props, tools, and freedom to play out their rich, creative ideas, as well as their feelings. Preschoolers have moved past the dependent stage of infancy, have asserted themselves as demanding toddlers, and are now in a period of playful independence and exploration. They have more words in their vocabularies and are able to communicate more complex ideas…unless they haven’t quite developed these skills yet, generalizations about people are always wrought with exceptions.
Although preschoolers typically have very creative imaginations, learning in real life is based on “what you see is what you get.” For example, most preschoolers do not understand that two containers with different shapes can hold the same amount of water. While older children understand that different shapes can hold the same amount of something, preschoolers will believe there is more water in the container that looks larger.
This is a developmental level of learning to be social, about one’s self, how to cope with feelings, and integrating a large amount of new knowledge.
The most important part of your preschoolers’ day in your early learning environment is when they are free to explore and play in the space you have provided. Play Time! Play is the richest platform for learning. Children learn more during free play time then they do during any other time of day. In addition…
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Like toddlers, preschoolers need to develop certain physical skills before they enter kindergarten. Two forms of physical development are essential for early learning “gross motor skills” and “fine motor skills.” Gross motor skills require the use of large muscles (for example, running or climbing stairs). Fine motor skills require the use of small muscles in…
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Art provides a variety of learning opportunities for your preschooler. Through art-related projects and activities, your preschooler will learn about the science of mixing colors and problem-solving skills. When drawing, he learns about lines and shapes, and practices his emerging writing skills. Art also enhances his imagination and his ability to express feelings. Coloring Books…
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Did you know one of the most natural parts of caring and educating young children is assessing them? We think about if they’ve gotten enough sleep, what we should feed them, how they will spend their time with us, how they are behaving, what they are learning, and more of course. When caring for and…
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You may be concerned about your child’s competence with her ABC’s and 123’s. Well, you can relax! Your preschooler doesn’t need to master reading, writing, or basic math before she goes to kindergarten. Preschool is a time for preparing your child to learn these concepts. As with infants and toddlers, reading to your preschooler every…
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As with all areas of learning, your preschoolers learn about math through everyday experiences. Have you noticed how quickly he can figure out that there may not be enough cupcakes for everyone at the birthday party? Though he may not know it, that’s math in action! As caregivers and teachers, it’s our job to make…
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When small children pass through the toddler years into the preschool years, their need for love and attention changes. While your preschoolers still need a large amount of love and attention, you will need to share your love in ways that are more appropriate for this age. Independence and Belonging Studies have shown that most…
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Conflicts are part of learning. It helps to remember this when you are faced with a preschooler who is acting up! This article is geared to adults working with children 3-5 years old in a group care setting, but is helpful for other care providers too! Making Positive Rules To create a safe climate for…
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