Skills for Preschool

Essential Preschool Skills

K-12 samples for:

math

reading

Parents of a preschooler usually have many questions. They wonder what toileting skills are typical of a two-year old, or what cognitive skills are typical of a four-year old.

Essential Skills, a Resource Book for Parents and Teachers, provides the answers.

Take a look at these sample preschool skills for self-help, motor, social-emotional, language, and cognitive development. Each sample shows a different age group.

SELF-HELP: 5 sets of skills like these

Annual goal: Learn self-help skills typical of age 6 months to 1 year
___ Drink from a bottle independently
___ Drink from a cup using two hands
___ Eat from a spoon with assistance
___ Eat finger foods
___ Show preference for some foods

___ Cooperate with dressing
___ Pull off simple clothing (cap)

___ Cooperate when face is washed and dried
___ Try to help wash and dry hands

GROSS MOTOR: 5 sets of skills like these

Annual goal: Learn gross motor skills typical of age 1 to 2
___ Walk forward independently
___ Push or pull a toy while walking
___ Squat and return to standing position
___ Bend at the waist to pick up object from floor
___ Run (gait may be stiff)

___ Creep up and down stairs
___ Walk up at least 3 stairs not alternating feet, holding railing or hand
___ Walk down at least 3 stairs not alternating feet, holding railing or hand
___ Seat self in a small chair
___ Climb on low play equipment, with help
___ Climb and slide down a small slide, with prompts

___ "Kick" a large unmoving ball
___ Throw a large ball in a random direction
___ Move to music

FINE MOTOR: 5 sets of skills like these

Annual goal: Learn FINE MOTOR skills typical of age 2 to 3
___ String at least 4 large beads
___ Build a structure of at least 6 blocks
___ Build a tower of at least 8 blocks
___ Build a bridge using 3 blocks, in imitation

___ Hold crayon or pencil with fingers
___ Imitate a vertical or horizontal line
___ Imitate a circle

___ Paint with a large paintbrush
___ Pound clay
___ Snip with scissors at least 1 inch
___ Pound pegs in a peg board

___ Fold a sheet of paper in half, in imitation
___ Turn pages one by one
___ Use snap-together toys such as large Legos
___ Complete an inset puzzle of at least five pieces

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL: 5 sets of skills like these

Annual goal: Learn SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL skills typical of age 3 to 4
___ Identify common emotions (happy, sad)
___ Engage in interactive play with one other child
___ Play with several children in common area
___ Engage in make-believe activities with others (tea party)

___ Ask permission to use a toy that another child is using
___ Take turns with one other child
___ Share with others

___ Follow rules given by teacher (games, safety)
___ Understand the consequences of behavior
___ Greet familiar people without reminders
___ Apologize with reminders

RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE: 5 sets of skills like these

Annual goal: Learn RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE skills typical of age 4 to 5
___ Listen attentively to instructions
___ Follow a three step direction

___ Show understanding of words for relationships (grandma, brother)
___ Show understanding of opposites
___ Show understanding of contractions (can't)

___ Show understanding of prepositions (in front of, next to)
___ Show understanding of words for comparisons (best, biggest)
___ Show curiosity about unfamiliar words

EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE: 5 sets of skills like these

Annual goal: Learn EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE skills typical of age 6 months to 1 year
___ Use social expressions (smile, laugh)
___ Use social gestures (wave)
___ Shake head for "yes" and "no"
___ Ask for "more" by gesture

___ Produce vowels
___ Produce consonants
___ Repeat syllables at least twice (da da)

___ Imitate sounds made by others
___ Produce speech inflections, using at least two syllables
___ Vocalize when spoken to
___ Use 1 word meaningfully

COGNITIVE: 5 sets of skills like these

Annual goal: Learn COGNITIVE skills typical of age 4 to 5
___ Tell age, upon request
___ Tell day and month of birthday
___ Give address including street, city
___ Give phone number

___ Draw a person: head and 3 body parts
___ Identify a triangle
___ State missing item when one taken from a group of three items
___ Recite numbers to 20
___ Count items to 10

___ Show awareness of sequence of class activities
___ Show understanding of the purpose of a clock
___ Show understanding of the sequence of "yesterday," "today," "tomorrow"
___ Show understanding of the purpose of money
___ Identify a penny, nickel and dime

___ Repeat at least three lines from rhyme or song
___ Answer questions about a story
___ Use word play and humor
___ Remember at least three objects seen in a picture
___ Identify own name in writing
___ Print first letter of own name

TRANSITION: 2 sets of skills like these

Annual goal: Develop TRANSITION skills leading to kindergarten placement
___ Follow directions given to large group
___ Participate in class activities
___ Show independent work habits
___ Show appropriate academic readiness
___ Relate to children appropriately

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Preschool samples

Birth-21 samples

Parent Guide (full text)

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