Preschoolers have gained a lot of confidence, agility, co-ordination and understanding. Now they need time and experiences to further establish friendships, knowledge, language and skills. How can we help? We can provide:
Physical
Sensory materials such as play dough, finger paints, sand and water
Large, open space for running, jumping, dancing and climbing
Team building games, i.e. “Mother, may I?” or “What Time is it Mr. Wolf?”
Allowing time for children to dress themselves (buttons, zippers, snaps and shoes)
Small and large wooden or plastic blocks
Cognitive/Intellectual
Learning through play about letters, words, colors, numbers, shapes, sorting and sizes
Reading and encouraging children to get involved with the story (“what happens next”)
Time for exploration and problem solving
Mandarin, Spanish, French and Sign language learning
Mental mathematics (abacus)
Financial literacy (saving and spending money, etc.)
Introduction to robotics
Emotional
Listening to, naming and modeling feelings and discussing how to express them in a safe manner
Opportunities for children to express their opinions about likes/dislikes, activities to choose, what to eat or what to wear
Times for children to be a leader or helper
Social
Playing games or doing activities chosen by the children
Encouraging sharing and taking turns
Helping with younger children
Teaching empathy, nurturing behaviors, relaxation and conflict resolution through role playing
Helping children get involved in the community by cleaning up a park, raising funds for a charity of their choice
Creative
Respect for and acknowledgement of child’s budding imagination, inner wisdom and self-choices.
Paint, markers, pencils, papers etc. with easy and open access
Puppets and materials to create the children’s own puppet show
Learning that uses all five senses (smell, sight, taste, touch and sound)
Music, movement and dance
Dress-up clothes (shoes, dresses, shirts, ties, etc) and costumes for role playing
