Early childhood is an exciting time for children as they learn many basic preschool skills to prepare them for the future. Preschoolers develop quickly and during this stage parents, teachers, and caregivers can help foster important developmental skills through daily activities designed to engage their young minds. 
There are 5 stages of development in children between birth and age 5:
- Physical
- Social
- Emotional
- Cognitive
- Language
A childhood educator is trained in the various skills children need to develop during this period of their life. But you are your child’s first and best teacher! Here is a look at simple ways you can encourage the developmental skills your child needs for success.
Tips For Practicing Preschool Skills Daily
1. Physical Skills
Physical skills involve movement and coordination like running, jumping, throwing, catching, and balance. These are important for overall physical development and health. Fine motor activities will also strengthen the muscles children will use for pre-writing skills.
- Play games where your child has to jump on one foot.
- Have your child do pushups and sit-ups.
- Practice balance by walking in a line.
- Play “Mother May I” and incorporate long jumps, skipping, and galloping.
2. Social skills
Social skills involve abilities such as making friends, understanding feelings, following directions, and problem-solving. They also include sharing, cooperation, empathy, respect, and self-control.
- Invite friends to play in your home after school.
- Teach your child to share toys, books, and time. Taking turns is an important life skill.
- Model good etiquette and manners.
3. Emotional Skills
Emotional skills allow a child to regulate their emotions and respond appropriately in different situations. This includes the ability to express feelings, understand them and manage them.
- Praise your child when they show kindness towards another person.
- Art – Drawing and painting are great ways to express emotions.
- Music and Movement – Listening to music can help stimulate emotions and movement helps to release them.
- Storytelling – Stories provide a safe space for children to explore their feelings, discuss challenging topics, and practice problem-solving.
4. Cognitive skills
Cognitive skills involve the ability to think, reason, remember and learn new concepts. They include memory, attention span, concentration, sequencing, organization, planning, problem-solving, and decision-making.
- Explore puzzles to help with problem-solving.
- Draw and color to improve motor skills and creativity.
- Sort objects into simpler groups like color and size.
- Use magnetic letters to practice letter recognition and spelling.
- Practice name writing.
5. Language skills
Language skills allow a child to understand and communicate verbally. It involves the ability to follow instructions, name objects, and form sentences. Language skills are those that include speaking, listening, reading, writing, and grammar.
- Read stories and books.
- Sing songs.
- Play rhyming games.
- Ask open-ended questions.
- Use daily routines to practice language skills.
Preparing For The Future
From reading stories to completing daily tasks, these activities will provide your child with many preschool skills that will stay with them throughout their lives. With the right resources and guidance, preschoolers can get off to a positive start as they take on the challenges of learning.
At Bayside Discovery Center in Palm Bay, FL we focus on incorporating the development of all five areas into everyday teaching. Learn more about our education philosophy here.
December 1, 2022
