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    BlogSchool Resources for KidsWhat Do Kids Learn in Preschool: Overview, Subjects & Skills

    What Do Kids Learn in Preschool: Overview, Subjects & Skills

    It is good to stay ahead of evolving trends in preschool education, especially if your kids are set to start school shortly. You can optimize their learning experiences by preparing and giving them the tools to explore their creativity. By knowing more about what is taught to kids in preschool, you can set the right expectations and help your children excel through fun-filled learning.

    The right approach is to understand the curriculum better and analyze extracurricular activities, learning goals, and teaching methodologies. Regardless of what school you opt for, kids should be able to spend quality time learning from different toys, tools, and classes. You can also get an idea of a benchmark for your kids to ensure they progress in a stimulating environment.

    Core Subjects in Preschool and Their Objectives

    Children doing art and crafts activity what is taught to kids in preschool

    1. Alphabets and Phonetics

    Preschoolers should be gaining a fundamental perspective of letters and some words. They should participate in group activities centered around singing the ABCs and worksheets on the alphabet. Critical areas, such as uppercase and lowercase, writing full names, and essential words, should be intuitively developed.

    The sounds of certain letters and words should also be a core part of the program. The syllabi of preschoolers should be centered on enabling them to learn through speaking. Key sound families, such as “F,” “Ch,” “B,” and “Va,” should be emphasized and taught comprehensively.

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    2. Reading and Comprehension

    Reading and early text comprehension are preliminary skills that preschoolers should be taught. They should be able to have your child read a storybook or a poem without feeling uncomfortable, flustered, or stressed.

    Kids should also be able to tell stories or create raw narratives using their creative imagination. They should be able to use words they’ve learned in preschool and create new takes on existing stories.

    3. Academic concepts

    Apart from reading and writing, preschools should also teach core concepts. Your children should intuitively grasp calendars, drawing, cutting, hygiene, nature, numbers, listening, weather, and other vital concepts.

    They should also have a multifunctional understanding of different types of concepts. You should be able to ask them to color trees green or describe the day of the week without significant assistance. Kids should also be enthusiastic about learning more about these concepts.

    4. Math and Logic

    Key areas, such as counting, addition, reading digits, etc., should be prioritized within preschools. Your child should be able to understand measurements, organize, categorize, and other mathematical functions. Teachers can also use online learning platforms and games to demonstrate key mathematical concepts.

    Your preschooler should also have an intuitive grasp of shapes & patterns. The number of sides of a figure, or the count of apples on a board, should feel natural to them as they learn through singing and reading.

    5. Core science skills

    Science is a key subject area that is covered in preschool as well. Activities such as cooking, observing, gardening, and weather mapping are encouraged and taught to kids. Preschoolers also understand different scientific study areas to explore the natural world further.

    Animal and plant kingdoms are explored with visual and multimedia formats to provide information on tigers, birds, trees, elephants, etc. Preschoolers fall in love with nature and science while having an inherent sense of why science is important.

    6. Motor Skills

    Children should learn larger and smaller motor skills in preschool, significantly improving hand-eye coordination, kinesthetic confidence, and balance. Your child should be able to write, cut, draw, paint, and perform rudimentary exercises based on provided inputs.

    The syllabus should also emphasize gross motor skills such as kicking a ball, stacking blocks, catching an object, playing with puzzles, and leveraging mind-muscle connections. Teachers should focus on empowering their children to explore their bodies through different tasks and objectives.

    7. Extracurricular activities to spark growth

    Extracurricular activities are as crucial to preschool development as academic or motor skill development. Your children should also prioritize field trips, singing, storytelling, guest speakers, presentations, and other activities. Extracurricular activities can also include camps and virtual meetups, which can be beneficial from a social bonding perspective.

    With extracurricular activities, your kids should be able to learn new skills intuitively while discovering more about the world in a fun-filled and energetic way. Using online learning platforms, toys, and virtual hangouts, your preschooler should feel prepared for school and better understand what learning is about.

    Expected Learning Outcomes in Preschool

    Child in long sleeve holding lego blocks What is taught to kids in preschool

    The preschool curriculum is designed to generate vital expected outcomes. Your child should be able to read at an elementary level while having an intuitive sense of counting and pattern recognition. 

    These basic skills should be polished enough to leverage them in kindergarten, 1st grade, etc. Kids should feel comfortable reading and writing basic stories, poems, and short answers. Some of the primary learning outcomes in preschool are as follows.

    1. Preschoolers should be able to read simple texts, storybooks, and poems.

    2. Kids should be able to express themselves with letters, words, and correct sounds.

    3. They should intuitively know science, math, and geography.

    4. Teachers should emphasize academic concepts such as calendars, weather, shapes, and organization.

    5. Enhancement in problem-solving skills through puzzles, boards, construction play, etc.  

    6. The inner creativity within each preschooler should be fully explored through coloring, drawing, painting, etc.

    7. Developing social skills through extracurricular activities, group sessions, and virtual meetups is also important.

    Give your preschooler the best opportunity to explore their inner genius!

    Woman teaching children about numbers What is taught to kids in preschool

    Through SplashLearn, you can encourage your kids to enjoy learning via a multimedia online learning experience. With games and worksheets engaging kids organically, kids can work on their counting, addition, digits, phonetics, and other preschool concepts with hours of fun. Our courses are designed to keep kids smiling as they pass level after level and learn invaluable math and ELA skills.

    Ready to get started? Parents can sign up here.

    You can reach out to us anytime at – help@splashlearn.com

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the first thing preschoolers learn?

    A. The first thing to teach preschoolers is counting and letters. These skills are foundational to all knowledge they’ll acquire throughout the year; starting here is best. You can enroll your child in online learning platforms where they can learn at their own pace for secondary assistance.

    What should a 4-year-old know academically?

    A 4-year-old child should be able to communicate basic thoughts and feelings. They should be able to count, name letters, solve puzzles, and correctly recognize colors and shapes. They should also grasp their address, geographical locations, and other academic concepts.    

    What do preschool teachers teach?

    Preschool teachers cover various topics within their lesson plans, such as counting, shapes, letters, songs, and physical exercises. They use text, videos, images, and props to teach preschoolers and ensure that each child has access to painting, drawing, and cutting skills.   

    What are the seven areas of development?

    The seven areas of development, which are vital for teachers and parents to be mindful of, are –

    • Communication and comprehension
    • Exercise and kinesthetic development
    • Emotional development
    • Literacy skills
    • Math and logical development
    • World understanding development
    • Creative skills
    AUTHOR
    Jill Baker
    Jill Baker has been teaching for 10 years and she loves sharing everything she has learned to help other teachers.

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