In 2013, a good portion of toddlers were enrolled in preprimary programs. Around 42% of three-year-olds and 68% of four-year-olds attended preschool programs that year. Many parents understand that, in theory, the high quality education their children receive in academic preschool programs will ensure grade school readiness. But they may not be entirely sure how common preschool activities will allow for the acquisition of valuable skills. To help you better understand how the typical academic preschool curriculum will help your child develop and learn, here are just some of the skills you can expect them to acquire.
- Early Literacy
Academic preschool activities such as reading books aloud can be both fun and educational, and they help children expand their vocabularies by connecting letters with the sounds they make. In preschool, children will learn how to identify all of the letters of the alphabet. They may also learn how to recognize their own names and write them on the adorable art projects they bring home at the end of the day. While they’re having fun, they’re also listening to sounds, identifying them, and repeating them — the essential building blocks on the path to literacy. - Counting and Numbers
In addition to learning letters and the sounds they make, children will also learn how to recognize and verbally identify numbers. Typically, they’ll learn how to count to 10 and learn what the basic numerals look like. While counting often involves memorization to start, children will later understand the connection between the numbers they say and the number of objects they see. Being able to correctly identify numerals 0 to 9 will help students build on their math skills in the future. - Communication
When they’re at preschool, children have a chance to converse with others their age. Being able to interact with both other students and adult teachers will allow them to better express themselves and understand how others communicate. They’ll also learn valuable listening skills in preschool. Understanding when it’s important to sit quietly, behave respectfully, and listen to instructions, as well as when it’s okay to talk to others, are crucial to their social development. - Sharing and Responsibility
Preschoolers will learn how to share, take turns, and cooperate. They’ll also learn how to regulate their own emotions and behaviors, allowing them to be more productive and happy at school. Teachers will express the importance of taking responsibility for keeping a clean and safe space for everyone to enjoy. Children will also learn when and how to ask for help, and when they might be able to be a bit more independent. While these skills might not seem quite as academic, they’re still part of obtaining a high quality education.
These are just a few of the social, intellectual, and emotional skills your child will begin to develop throughout their enrollment in our preschool programs. To find out more about how our programs can provide a high quality education for your child, contact Learn and Grow Academy today.