What Kids Learn in Preschool

what do kids learn in preschool?

imay be dating myself, but when I graduated from kindergarten, I needed to be able to say all the letters of the alphabet and recite my address and phone number from memory. Although I’m sure I learned other skills throughout the year, that was the final test. My, how things have changed! Kindergarten students are now reading, writing, doing addition and, sometimes, subtraction by the time they move on to first grade. In fact, as crazy as it may sound, if a child doesn’t have some pre-K skills, he may start kindergarten behind his peers.

“Academics is a part of what we do, but they have to be able to do critical thinking, walk in a line, make good choices and selfregulate before kindergarten,” says Michele Isringhausen, director of Colonial Presbyterian Child Development Center in Overland Park. “When they get into kindergarten, they need to be able to hit the ground running. They no longer have the luxury of learning social skills in kindergarten; they have to be able to focus on academics.”

Isringhausen is a former kindergarten teacher who remembers juggling four young children with a husband who traveled frequently. She says she tries to create a community to support the kids’ developmental needs, as well as the parents’ emotional needs. “I wanted to be able to give parents the benefit and opportunity to build community. To know that I’m not in this by myself. That there are others that can come along beside me and help me.” Early education can also give outside teachers an opportunity to notice when a child is struggling with speech, attention or sensory issues and to offer educated advice on how to move forward.

Minka Rudman, preschool lead teacher & early childhood coordinator at The Barstow School, notes that in addition to academics, in preschool children “are

learning how to regulate their feelings, finding strategies that help solve problems, learning how to make friends and understanding their wants and needs. They practice their gross motor skills, develop an awareness of the world around them, learn what it means to be a good citizen, practice self-help skills and so much more.”

According to the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), this is essential: “Play and academics are not an ‘either or.’ For children birth to 8, play is an essential element in learning.” So is a positive learning experience. Often, we think that algebra and chemistry classes are the most important part of a child’s education, but it’s actually the reverse. The experiences a child has in early education lay the foundation for any future learning opportunities. The KSDE says, “Early childhood experiences, from birth through age 8, are necessary for school success and have a direct influence on future success.”

Setting a foundation for success is at the heart of early education. “Learning to get along with others, learning to make friends, learning to share, learning to wait, and the consequences of our actions. We learn respect for others and authority,” Isringhausen says. “It’s important for kids to learn that at an early age, especially right now in our culture. We teach that we don’t all agree. We look different and think differently, and that’s okay.”

Now that kindergarten is a full day, which can equate to about 40 hours a week in school, giving preschoolers the opportunity to spend 10-16 hours in a structured environment gives them a leg up in handling the pressure and transition to a regular school day.

Isringhausen says that they do spend time on letters, numbers, sight words, STEM and STEAM activities and other academic concepts, but the most important skill they give to their students is a love of learning and a firm foundation to launch into an academic world that is getting harder each year.

Christian Barnes lives in Kansas City with her husband and two nearly grown sons. She’s fascinated by how children think and learn and enjoys sharing any information that she’s gathered with others.

Creating a Preschool Environment on Your Own

For many parents, sending their kids to a preschool or development center is not feasible or desirable. If that’s the case, you can still create an atmosphere of learning by being intentional about what you surround your children with and how you structure your day.

One of the most important things you can do as soon as your child is born is talk to her. Even though she may not understand what you’re saying, by the time a child is 2, she will have a 200- to 300-word vocabulary.

Reading to your child will also develop speaking and vocabulary skills, bumping his word pool up to the 2,000-word level by the time he is 5.

Growing up in a larger family will help children develop their social-emotional needs simply because sharing, helping and caring for others is a part of their everyday lives. But for those in smaller families, you may need to arrange playdates to give your kids the opportunities to practice these essential skills. Pick one lesson, such as sharing, letting others go first or practicing kindness, and talk to your child about that thought before the playdate. Work on one thing at a time, especially in young children, until it becomes a part of their regular routine.

Homeschooler Carissa Jones says she finds she is able to teach her children best by including them in the everyday routines of life. “When I’m making pancakes and we need a cup of flour, we look through the measuring cups together to find the cup. When you’re out watering the garden and you talk to your kids about how the plants need sun and water, what bugs are eating the lettuce and how to stop that, they are learning about the world we live in and how it works.” But Jones acknowledges that it can be hard to include young ones when you just want to get the job done. “It takes patience and time, but your kids will absorb what is around them.”

She has also gotten together with families and used the curriculum A Summer of Playing Skillfully by Kathy H. Lee and Lesli M. Richards, which lays out a fun, interactive curriculum of guided play for preschoolers. “We would each take a month and plan the activities and host it once a week. The kids were learning, but they didn’t realize it because they were playing. We had five young kids between us, and it worked because we were able to take turns so it wasn’t too much for either of us.”

The preschool age is a time for kids to adjust to the fact that they aren’t the center of the universe, to learn to care for others and to grow in independence. It’s an incredibly important time of growth and maturing for little ones that can take place inside a classroom or, with some extra effort, inside the home.

WAYS TO ENCOURAGE independence a EVERY DAY lthough some of you parents out there may not want to hear it, your children are going to grow up. It’s true! They’re going to become teenagers one day, and once that stage is done, they’ll take off to college and enter adulthood. It can be a scary thought for sure, but what’s even scarier is that some children out there will grow up without knowing the first thing about being on their own. Children crave independence from an early age. They want to do things on their own and feel competent. And although some parents do a great job encouraging their children to do things for themselves, others back away from their children’s desires for independence because they don’t want their babies to grow up. The truth of the matter is this: When you encourage a child to do things for himself, his self-confidence improves. Here are a few great tips to encourage independence at different stages in your child’s life:

Ages 2 and 3: When your toddler is curious about exploring and can leave your side for short periods of time, this is a sign he is ready to stretch his wings. Encourage his curiosity, but be sure to supervise closely at all times.

Ages 4 and 5: At this age, your child is probably ready to play on the sidewalk or in the front yard without you right by her side. Keep an eye on her and make sure she knows not to wander off. You can draw a line with sidewalk chalk on the driveway to let her know her boundaries in which she can play.

Ages 5 and 6: Is your child good at following directions? If so, he is probably ready to try walking to a nearby friend’s house by himself. Arrange a playdate with his friend’s parent, and then tell your child exactly what to do. Be sure to watch him from your front door or porch until he arrives (or have his friend’s parent call you when he arrives), and remind him that he cannot leave or go to another house. When it’s time for him to return home, tell him to call you (or have the parent call you) to let you know when he’s on his way home so you can watch out for him.

Ages 7 and 8: This may be a good age to begin letting your child cross the street by herself, especially if she has good impulse control and the patience to make sure no cars are coming. But don’t just let her go off on her own right away. First, be sure she knows the basics well, such as looking both ways before crossing and not running between cars in a parking lot. Regardless of how experienced you think she may be, practice with her on a quiet road. Have her cross the road with you following behind her for a couple of weeks. Then have her practice crossing by herself and meeting you on the other side. If you live on a busy street with a lot of traffic, however, wait until she is over the age of 10.

Ages 10 and up: Children over the age of 10 who behave well at home and consistently follow safety rules (i.e., not opening the door to strangers) may be ready to stay home for short durations of time by themselves. Begin with brief outings, 20 to 30 minutes. Be sure your child has your phone number and knows how to call you and leave a voice mail message. Post emergency numbers where he can see them and be sure he knows how the locks on all of the doors work. Also, be very clear on what he can and cannot do while you’re away. Tell him when you will return and then be on time.

Ages 13 and up. The teen years may seem a little more daunting, only because your teenager will want more independence and time away from the house. Just breathe, folks. Begin by giving your young teen jobs around the house to prepare her for the working world. Regular household chores are great to start with, and babysitting jobs will give kids skills for their futures. And when your teen reaches the legal working age, encourage her to get a part-time (or summer) job. This can lead into lessons on money management, another great way to help kids feel competent when they do leave home.

Kansas City mom and author Gina Klein makes her two daughters responsible for chores each day. Chores are written on their chore chart to alleviate the need for constant reminders.