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Early Childhood

Academic Top 5

Here are some of the things that early childhood students learn each year:

  1. Social/emotional skills: These skills, built throughout childhood and beyond, are essential in school and life. They include solving problems, managing emotions, and working in a team, among others.
  2. Adaptive development: For early childhood students, this progress includes learning to dress/undress themselves, feed themselves, tend to toileting and grooming and understanding appropriate behavior in different settings.
  3. Communication: In addition to speech and language skills, students also learn how to communicate their needs and ideas with kindness and respect.
  4. Motor skills: Fine motor skills involve small movements, such as eating with a fork or drawing with a pencil. Gross motor skills involve large movements, such as running, climbing, jumping, and balancing.
  5. Pre-academics: Early childhood activities build skills that eventually lead to academic learning, such as writing, reading, and math.

Social emotional skills & behavior

Here are some of the developmental skills and phases that are typical at this age:

  • Most love to play games with peers and adults. By age 3 or 4, most children can follow simple rules, but it’s normal for them to always want to win. This is a chance for adults to model how to calmly handle losing or experiencing bad luck in a game.
  • While preschoolers are often independent and defiant, it’s also natural at times for them to want close attachment to their parents/guardians. Fears are normal, especially as they become more independent in the world. If fears or extreme attachment to a parent/guardian are interfering with normal activities, talk to your student's teacher for ideas or resources at school that can help.
  • Early Childhood students tend to have wonderful imaginations! Dramatic play is typical at this age, and children often act out elaborate stories or play make-believe games.
  • Understanding fairness and learning to take turns is an important milestone for preschool students. Playtime is a perfect opportunity to practice these skills, including how to manage emotions when things aren’t fair.

Resources

If you have questions, or believe your child might benefit from more support in any area of learning and growth, here are some resources:

  • Your student’s teacher is a great first checkpoint if you have questions or concerns about academic progress or experiences at school.
  • Our school principals are a good resource if you have concerns or questions about your student that extend beyond the classroom or aren’t able to be resolved with your student's teacher.
  • Our mental health team can help if your student seems to be struggling with social and emotional skills or is going through a stressful time with family or friends. You can reach these professionals by calling the school office.