It’s essential for every parent to understand their child’s preschool curriculum since it lays the foundation for future learning. Assuming all preschools are the same can be a misconception as some preschools offer more comprehensive resources and programs than others.
A good preschool curriculum will focus on a range of concepts to foster your child’s mental and physical development. Enrolling your child in a quality early childhood education can pave the way for academic success in the future.
What Your Child Learns Matters
Each preschool has its own educational philosophy or “school of thought”. Depending on the specific philosophy that they follow, emphasis will be placed on certain things. For some schools, more emphasis is placed on academic or physical lessons. Others may focus more on social and emotional lessons in addition to academic ones. Some schools may also place a greater focus on fine motor skills and critical speech. Schools with a religious background may include aspects of religious education.
Ensuring that your child has access to a well-rounded curriculum will help them develop the necessary skills they need to succeed. This is why it’s important to pay attention to what your child is learning in school.
What Will My Child Learn In A Preschool Curriculum?
Having a solid foundation during the early education year will ensure that children are well-equipped for later learning. A preschool curriculum should include aspects of literacy, mathematics, and large and fine motor skills. The curriculum should also include social skills. These skills are important for making friends and understanding basic social cues, such as sharing or taking turns.
Teachers can also have their own educational approaches. They may also change their approach depending on the specific needs of the child. It’s important to remember that every child is unique; not every child can grasp or understand certain concepts the same way. Teachers can adjust the curriculum accordingly to help your child learn better within the classroom.
Keep in mind that, irrespective of the specific school’s educational philosophy, preschool is there to prepare children for kindergarten. This means that children must focus on key areas which will benefit them once they’re in a school setting.
Some aspects of early education include:
The Calendar
Preschool children should have a good grasp of the seasons, days of the week, and months of the year. The calendar can also help with understanding numbers. A good understanding of numbers is the building block of mathematical literacy down the road.
The Alphabet
Knowing their letters and how they are put together to form words will help your child’s literacy skills improve.
Arts And Crafts
Painting, drawing, coloring, and other artistic activities will not only help your child develop their fine motor skills. It will also help develop their understanding of colors and the color wheel. Coloring is also a great way to work on fine motor skills by having them stay within the lines if using a coloring book.
Physical Activity
Physical activity helps children develop their gross and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills are larger physical activities such as playing outdoors or with a ball or a jump rope. These activities will help develop your child’s coordination and spatial awareness.
Fine motor skills include manual dexterity (like using scissors) as well as hand-eye coordination. The best part is that learning through play can help your children become more sociable and active.
Hygiene
Understanding hygiene at an early age can help your child develop healthy habits that they will take with them into adulthood. Children should learn from an early age the importance of washing their hands, covering their mouths when they cough, and more. Good hygiene can help preschoolers stay healthy.
Social skills are a vital part of early learning and development. Children interact with others through verbal communication and body language. Your child will learn various social concepts such as sharing, cooperation, understanding directions, manners, and personal space. Well-developed social skills will also translate into school-readiness skills. This helps your child make the transition from preschool to kindergarten and beyond a lot easier.
How Is Preschool Curriculum Taught?
Each teacher will use specific lesson plans to ensure that children are meeting the curriculum criteria. Preschool curriculums can include the use of field trips to allow them to explore the outside world in a group setting, or classes taught by specialist teachers for art or music.
The key is to have activities that are hands-on, allowing children to indulge in their instinct to play and be creative. Having a regular learning routine provides children with a sense of stability, but it’s never boring. Each day in preschool is an opportunity to make friends and build their sense of self.
Choosing The Right Preschool Curriculum In South Florida
Parents always want the best for their children and that’s why it’s important to understand exactly what your child will be learning in their preschool class. The curriculum should help promote learning within the classroom and outdoors to meet necessary developmental goals.
At Parkland Children’s Academy, our licensed early childhood education providers understand the importance of a well-developed preschool curriculum. They are passionate about helping children develop mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Our classrooms are a safe place for children to be challenged, learn, and grow as they prepare for kindergarten and beyond. Additionally, our small classroom sizes allow for individualized attention, so each child gets the focus they need.
If you’d like to find out more information on our preschool curriculum or arrange a visit to tour our Parkland preschool, contact us today at (954) 688-5877.