Preschool children (ages 4 to 5) experience an ever-growing advancement of their skills. Engaging in their childcare development is crucial and provides the foundation for the rest of their lives.
That’s why Covenant Schools offer targeted preschool childcare development curriculums to help preschoolers achieve these critical milestones.
Developmental Milestones
Developmental milestones help doctors and other childcare professionals gauge a child’s development. Professionals assess a child’s functional skills and tasks being achieved during certain stages.
What should preschool children be able to do?
By age 4, children can dress themselves and fasten larger buttons. They can draw circles, catch, and throw overhand. They can also walk downstairs alone, sing, and hop on one foot.
Most importantly, they can tell the difference between reality and make-believe.
By age 5, children can cut with scissors, jump rope, and draw triangles. They begin losing their baby teeth and start learning to tie their shoes. They also know their address and phone number and can write their first name.
Around this time is when they recognize and recite the alphabet.
What should preschool children be able to say?
Preschool children comprehend numbers and letters and realize that these symbols represent ideas and are used to tell stories.
They’ll often know the names and genders of people they are close to. They also begin creating words and stories of their own.
Preschool children’s vocabularies range from 1,000 to 2,000 words.
By age 4, children begin asking questions and telling stories. They know more than one color and can use up to 5 words in a sentence.
By age 5, children know the days of the week and months of the year. They know more than four colors and understand instructions with multiple steps. They like talking and can use sentences with six or more words.
What should preschool children be able to understand?
By age 4, children begin to understand the concept of time and are more aware of the people around them. They still don’t understand the differences between right and wrong but will usually obey their parents’ requests.
By age 5, children want to know more about the world around them and develop the skills to compare different ideas and realities.
Fitness Milestones
Fitness milestones evaluate gross and fine motor skills. Preschool children are blooming in these areas, and now is the time to encourage physical play.
How active are preschool children?
Preschool children are learning to hop, skip, and jump. They can balance on one foot, catch, and throw. They begin riding tricycles and bicycles with training wheels.
These recommended guidelines help preschoolers stay active:
- Remaining physically active throughout the day
- Engaging in physical and structured (adult-guided) play
- Encouraging jumping, hopping, and tumbling to strengthen bones and muscles
Should preschool children participate in sports?
It depends on the child. Sports can help some children learn rules, take turns, socialize, and enhance their catching and throwing abilities.
For other children, sports can be frustrating and discouraging. These feelings may keep them from wanting to do sports in the future.
If you choose to enroll your preschooler in a sports league, select leagues aligned with their developmental stage and age.
Sleeping Milestones
Preschool children should sleep 10 to 12 hours a night, which means they are no longer napping during the day. They may still need a daytime nap if they don’t sleep enough during the nighttime hours.
Communication Milestones
Being able to communicate with our kids is one of the most satisfying achievements of parenting. Preschool children use communication skills to learn more about the world around them.
How should preschool children interact with others?
As preschool children begin to form their different personalities, there are common behavioral traits these children should exhibit.
By age 4, children become independent and selfish. They may develop several fears and usually encounter a variety of mood swings. They also begin to fight with their siblings.
This is a time for exploration as they begin to form imaginary friends and play doctor to learn about their bodies.
By age 5, they become more cooperative and begin displaying better manners. They want to please others and build strong bonds with their parents. This is where they become attached to their parents, which makes it difficult for them to go to preschool and kindergarten.
How can I interact with my preschooler?
Reading, singing, and talking with your children enhance their vocabulary and listening skills. Talk about the day, books you’ve read together, and shows you watch together.
Leave books, magazines, and other reading materials out so they can read these on their own.
How can I help my preschooler socialize?
Try to arrange play dates and other activities with children. Limit their screen time to give them more time for other activities.
Encourage unsupervised play and allow them to make choices. Create an environment where they can express their feelings in appropriate ways. Compliment them for good behavior and achievements and use time-out for unacceptable behavior.
Nurture Your Child’s Development at Covenant Schools
We understand that parenting can be challenging. At Covenant Schools, we facilitate childcare development by offering Christian-based preschool curriculums. These curriculums focus on the different developmental stages preschoolers encounter.
Contact us today to learn more about how our programs can enrich the life of your blossoming preschooler.