You’ve probably heard that your preschooler will learn a lot in school. But what exactly does that mean? What will your child be learning this year? And how can you help reinforce the preschool curriculum at home? You’re in the right place to find out.
The Short Cut
Preschool is too soon for a strict academic focus because kids’ brains aren’t ready yet. Instead, preschool curriculums help with social, emotional, and physical development.
Play is the most natural way for kids to learn; your child should have many play-based learning experiences in preschool. Kids learn a lot in preschool—from recognizing letters and following directions to taking turns and resolving conflicts, they work hard!
The typical preschool curriculum covers various essential skills, from core academic concepts like literacy and math to character skills like recognizing emotions and critical thinking skills like following directions.
At Petite School House, we focus on developing essential skill areas at the heart of early education.
What’s Covered in a Preschool Curriculum?
Preschool is your child’s first formal educational setting, usually about two years before kindergarten. A preschool curriculum is a set of planned learning experiences or goals that educators use to guide what they teach young children.
The primary purpose of any curriculum should be to help kids build the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in school and beyond.
The curriculum is often taught through play-based learning experiences that gently introduce children to the concepts, laying the foundation for future academic success.
Most preschool curriculums introduce kids to various academic concepts, emphasizing reading and math. Social skills, such as how to share and cooperate with others, are also taught. This is what a typical preschool program would look like:
Academic Skills
- Early Literacy: Preschoolers learn about the alphabet and how letters make sounds. They’ll be exposed to both uppercase and lowercase letters, often emphasizing the letters in their name. Teachers will help them practice phonological and phonemic awareness through rhyming games or tongue twisters. They’ll also understand basic narrative structure and print awareness, learning that we read from left to right and top to bottom.
- Beginning Math Skills: Preschool math focuses on developing a solid foundation in numbers and counting. Children will practice counting through practical tasks and use math manipulatives. They’ll also learn about shapes and colors through hands-on experiences, such as drawing different-sized circles or engaging in shape-themed games.
- Hands-On Science: Preschoolers’ curiosity makes science a perfect subject. They might help plant a class garden, participate in water play activities, or conduct simple experiments. This hands-on approach allows them to explore their environment and develop a basic understanding of scientific concepts.
- Early Childhood Social Studies: Children learn about their community and the people who live in it, such as police officers, firefighters, and librarians. They’ll also learn about different celebrations and holidays, providing an excellent opportunity to discuss family traditions.
Social Skills
- Social-Emotional Learning: Preschool allows children to learn important social skills like taking turns, resolving conflicts, listening to and following instructions, and cooperating with others. This early instruction helps them prepare for interactions throughout their life.
- Communication Skills: Strong communication skills are vital for success. Children practice expressing their needs and wants at this age, participating in group activities, and asking questions. Encouraging communication at home by discussing their day, reading books together, and having family conversations can reinforce these skills.
- Sharing: Learning to share can be challenging for preschoolers, but preschool provides an environment to practice sharing books, toys, and materials. Encouraging sharing at home can make it a more natural habit.
Classroom Readiness
- Motor Skills: Physical education helps children develop fine and gross motor skills through running races and ball play. Art activities like drawing and painting also help build these skills while allowing children to express themselves creatively.
- Classroom Skills: For many young children, preschool is their first exposure to the classroom. They learn to follow rules, meet expectations, and use classroom materials, becoming more comfortable and confident in this setting by the end of the year.
Arts and Crafts
Art is an important part of the preschool curriculum. It’s an excellent way for children to express themselves, helps them develop fine motor skills, and teaches them about colors, shapes, and patterns.
During art time, your child will have the opportunity to try out a variety of materials and mediums, such as crayons, markers, paint, clay, and more. They’ll experiment with different techniques, such as mixing colors and making patterns, and create masterpieces to take home and share with you.
The Petite School House Program
Petite School House offers a stimulating combination of the Reggio Emilia Method and the Project Approach to learning.
- The Reggio Emilia Method of education is based on a child’s developmental need for freedom within limits and a carefully prepared environment that guarantees exposure to materials and experiences. In this age group, you will find just that.
- The classroom materials and social setting are supportive of the child. Materials are multi-sensory, sequential, and self-correcting, thus facilitating learning. Everything a child sees, listens to, feels, and tastes enhances the education of his/her mind.
- The Project Approach allows children to construct and represent their knowledge through various modes of expression.
- As children collaborate and debate with their peers, they are challenged to use their higher-order thinking skills as they encounter and explore various topics during long-term projects. It is self-directed learning in a whole learning environment.
The Perfect Start: Petite School House’s Preschool Curriculum
Choosing the right preschool for your child is a significant decision that can positively impact their early development. Petite School House offers a nurturing and comprehensive curriculum to support all aspects of your child’s growth.
With a strong focus on social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development, Petite School House ensures your child receives a well-rounded early education.
As a leading Northridge preschool and child care center, we provide exceptional early education and care. Visit us today to see why we are the premier Northridge early education center.
Don’t wait; give your child the best start at Petite School House! Schedule a tour or contact us to learn more about our programs.