What Will My Child Learn?
In a quality preschool setting, your child should have the opportunity to explore, learn, and socialize through experiences such as the following. Read on to see some of the skills children learn while playing in various areas.
When your child uses the ART AREA, he is learning …
- To express himself and be creative, how to recognize and create colors, properly hold and use writing tools, paintbrushes, etc., and is practicing with symmetry, shape, and spatial skills.
When a child uses the BLOCK or BUILDING AREA, she is learning …
- About length, measurement, and numbers, to take turns, cooperate with others, and share materials, to manipulate and identify the characteristics of materials, and problem solve.
When a child uses the SENSORY TABLE, she is learning …
- To measure and count, to match and sort, learning about cause and effect, and is practicing eye hand coordination.
When your child plays in the DRAMATIC PLAY AREA, he is learning …
- To use his imagination and abstract thinking, to role play, develop and expand vocabulary, to problem solve, practice conflict resolution skills and cooperation.
When a child uses the MANIPULATIVE AND PUZZLE AREA, she is learning to…
- Recognize and sort shapes, is practicing spatial skills, eye hand coordination, and fine motor skills needed for writing.
When a child uses the WRITING/ WRITTEN EXPRESSION AREA, he is learning to…
- Understand that letters/symbols have meaning, begin to recognize sight words, learn left to right progression, enhance fine motor skills.
As children’s time is taken up more & more with scheduled activities, it is important to consider what they are losing when they miss out on play.
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play really is the work of childhood.”
– Fred Rogers
Curriculum Key
Pre-reading/writing skills = green
Pre-math skills = red
Science skills = orange
Motor skills = blue
Social-emotional skills = purple