Ages 4 To 5 years

Below are the program goals for children in our Preschool  Program. Generally by the end of this stage, children may be  able To do the following:

Emotional Development

• Dress and undress self with assistance in some areas, such as tying, snapping and buttoning
• Care for own possessions and those belonging To the group most of the time
• Place some toys, materials, etc., in their proper places without constant reminders
• Learn and accept new routines and changes
• Deal with emotions in a developmentally appropriate way, most of the time
• Respond To redirection from staff in a constructive way, most of the time

Social Development & Living

• Understand and participate as a cooperative member of a small group, most of the time
• Share toys and equipment, most of the time
• Make the choice between working alone and in groups and be able To do both at different times
• Cooperate in some group activities and projects
• Categorize people, places, events and objects in terms of whether they belong at child care or home
• Identify various kinds of transportation
• Understand and participate in the celebration of some national holidays

Physical Development / Gross Motor

• Perform motor skills including sliding, leaping, stopping and running
• Walk a balance beam
• Catch a small ball (e.g. softball, tennis ball, etc.)
• Perform physical fitness exercises such as bending, stretching, reaching, relaxing and breathing, etc
• Talk about why exercise is important and helps us grow (e.g. muscles, bones, etc.)
• Use large muscle equipment (e.g. tricycle, slides, etc.)

Fine Motor

• Use scissors and cut simple patterns
• Use small paint brushes and narrow line markers
• Glue or paste small objects in simple patterns
• Copy a triangle
• Assemble an 8-11 piece puzzle

Cognitive Development / Concept Development

• Recognize basic colors: red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, white, brown and black
• Identify similarities and differences of common objects on the basis of color
• In addition To identifying a circle, square and triangle, identify a rectangle
• Determine relative size of three objects in terms of big, bigger, biggest and small, smaller, smallest
• Identify similarities and differences of common objects according To their size and shape (e.g.    tall/short tree, big/little dog, etc.)
• Develop an awareness of our five senses
• Follow a sequence of at least three directions

Verbal and Written Language

• Recognize and say personal information such as home address and telephone number
• Give simple directions
• Make up a story
• Tell a version of a familiar story (e.g. The Three Bears, etc.)
• Speak in complete sentences
• Follow simple instructions
• Ask for help when needed
• Incorporate new words learned into everyday vocabulary (e.g. from curriculum and daily living, etc.)
• Name basic objects and ideas that are important To daily routine (e.g. bathroom, front door, etc.)

Reading Readiness & Literature

• Name some letters of the alphabet (e.g. upper and lower case)
• Recognize some sight words in environment (e.g. stop, exit, etc.)
• Listen and enjoy being read To
• Answer basic content questions about stories a child has heard
• Relate the endings of familiar stories (e.g. Peter Rabbit, etc.)
• Name and tell about characters in stories
• Recite one or two simple poems or rhymes
• Relate basic cause and effect from a story child has heard

Science

• Participate in planting seeds and caring for growing plants
• Learn about some basic changes, such as ice melting, water boiling
• Construct simple structures using blocks and other building materials
• Experience and talk about weather changes in a simple way (e.g. clouds and rain, cold and snow, etc.)
• Practice basic habits for good health (e.g. wash hands, brush teeth, blow nose, etc.)
• Help prepare and tell about healthy foods

Premath Skills

• Rote count from 1-20 Recognize most numerals from 1-10
• Set enough snacks or other objects on a table for at least eight children
• Identify sets of 0 To 5 objects
• Identify objects in terms of relative size (e.g. bigger than, smaller than or same size as)
• Match a number of objects To corresponding items

Art, Music & Movement

• Use and care for various art materials, including crayons, paste, chalk, clay, finger paints, paint and pencils
• Use additional art techniques, including drawing, collage, painting, printmaking and simple construction
• Use simple art forms To entertain self and others (e.g. movement, painting, drama, etc.)
• Identify simple songs and instruments
• Talk about how various songs make him/her feel (e.g. sad, happy, etc.)
• Participate in a variety of music activities
• Use free-form movement and/or exercise in response To music