Joyous Inclusive Preschool Presents the Vital Role of Skill Training.
A child between the ages of five to six is in a new frontier of curiosity and bravery. They are grasping a better understanding of the world around them and sharpening the skills they need to engage in it. Soon, they will be making the leap into primary school, where learning becomes more structured and intense – and the best way to help them along is to provide them with an inclusive skill training-oriented program during preschool. The skills gained during these years, including independent living, intrapersonal, interpersonal, intellectual, and academic skills, all offered by Joyous Inclusive Preschool. In this article, we will be delving into this and the following milestones:
- Physical Development: Greater confidence in gross and fine motor skills.
- Cognitive Development: Clarity in speech and growth in numeracy skills.
- Social and Emotional Development: Increased interaction with peers and managing emotions.
Physical Milestone Development
During this age, you will witness your child’s confidence flourish when it comes to their gross and fine motor skills. Children between the ages of five to six would confidently move around to interact with their environment, probably be able to master using the remote control – and possibly get away from you in public places, so keep an eye out for them! Here are some other milestones they would typically achieve by now:
Gross Motor Skill
Developmental Markers:
- Increased coordination, balance, and physical agility.
- E.g.: Ride bicycles, run, hop, and jump with confidence, actively engage in play and sports.
Fine Motor Skills
Developmental Markers:
- Refined hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
- E.g.: Demonstrates ability to write alphabets and numbers, cut along lines, use small objects with precisions.
Cognitive Milestone Development
Between the ages of five and six, children begin to understand basic mathematical relationships and use this knowledge to solve simple problems. As for their language development, you will hear them use their words with intentionality and perhaps begin to sing the alphabet song with understanding. Here are a few milestones to keep an eye out on:
Language Development
Developmental Markers:
- Continues expanding vocabulary and recognizing letters.
- Express themselves clearly with words and engage in meaningful conversations.
- Demonstrate improved reading readiness and early writing skills.
Numeracy Skills
Developmental Markers:
- Begin to grasp basic mathematics concepts.
- E.g.: Counting, recognizing numbers, simple addition, and subtraction.
Social and Emotional Development
The social and emotional development of children between ages five and six is largely defined by how they interact with others and make sense of their own emotions. This is the time we see them expressing the desire to share their toys and setting boundaries in taking turns to play with them. They will also start to recognize their emotions, such as sadness and anger, and begin to express themselves in accordance with how they feel. Here are some other notable milestones to keep track of:
Peer Interaction
Developmental Markers:
- Displays interest in engaging and playing with peers.
- E.g.: Turning taking, sharing, participating in cooperative play.
Emotional Regulation
Developmental Markers:
- Able to identify and manage emotions effectively.
- Express themselves appropriately.
- Develop resilience when faced with challenges.
Importance of Skill Training During Pre-Primary Years
Preschool is the best time to focus on your child’s skill training as primary school would shift their gears into an academic focus. These crucial years of your child’s learning are prime season for developing essential skills that strengthen their abilities, boost their confidence, adaptability and readiness for the challenges faced in a more academic curriculum.
Joyous Inclusive Preschool has developed a program that nurtures these skills in a holistic manner, considering the various facets of a child’s life and the skills they need to live a healthy and well-balanced life. Our program:
- Encourages Independence – Using age-appropriate activities such as organizing their backpack and tying their shoelaces.
- Promotes Reading – By engaging in storytelling, reading aloud, and providing access to age-appropriate books.
- Establishes Routine – By mimicking future primary school schedules, including mealtimes and designated play and study time.
- Develops Holistic Skill Sets – Our 5S learning Model is a set of skills which we consider to be crucial for the future of your child.
What do these holistic preschool skill sets entail?
Independent Living Skills
We emphasize developing self-care routine skills such as dressing themselves, managing personal belongings, being accountable for their actions as well as having a sense of independence and autonomy.
Intrapersonal Skills
We cultivate intrapersonal skills which help them develop self-awareness, self-expression, and self-regulation. This helps children understand and manage their emotions, develop positive self-esteem and a strong sense of identity.
Interpersonal Skills
We nurture interpersonal skills, including communicating effectively, empathy and cooperation. These skills enable them to build positive relationships, appreciate diversity, work collaboratively with peers, and foster a sense of community and belonging.
Intellectual Skills
We encourage the development of intellectual skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Using engaging activities and stimulating learning experiences, we guide children as they develop their curiosity, logical reasoning, and imaginative thinking.
Academic Skills
We teach children foundational academic skills using age-appropriate activities which support early literacy, numeracy, and cognitive development, which provides them with a solid foundation for future academic success.
Joyous Inclusive Preschool recognizes the need for an inclusive and holistic approach to your child’s learning experience. The skills listed will not only assist them in navigating primary school life, but as they continue to develop and nurture these skills, they form a foundational basis that will help them thrive even during their later childhood years. The idea behind our 5S model is to empower our Joyous children to maximize their full potential through a program that celebrates each of them as individuals – and we would love your child to be part of this journey too!
Managing Developmental Delays
Every child is unique. It is important to bear in mind that comparing your child’s development to other children or even the child’s own sibling is not advisable in making an assessment. However, if you observe significant delays or have concerns about your child’s development, here are some steps you can take:
1. Consult a medical professional.
Schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician or a child psychologist or psychiatrist, for a proper evaluation and guidance. Here’s a list of medical professionals you can refer to.
Call +60106609459 if you need to seek advice from early childhood specialists, such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, or psychologists.
2. Obtain a developmental assessment.
Request for a comprehensive developmental assessment by a child specialist if recommended. For your own home observation, use these helpful checklists:
- Developmental Checklist for 5-year-olds
- Developmental Checklist for 6-year-olds
3. Seek out early intervention services.
Enroll your child for an early intervention program, which include therapies and curated learning sessions, specifically designed to assist children with developmental delay. Seek out a nearby institution or obtain a recommendation from your child specialist.
Joyous Education offers early intervention programs tailored to your child’s needs. Click here to find out more!
4. Create a supportive environment.
Continue providing your child with an environment that promotes their developmental growth, through interactive play time, reading together, exploring activities as well as opportunities for social engagement and conversations to build their language skills.
5. Connect with support networks.
You will need support to journey with your child effectively. Reach out to support networks such as parent groups or online communities who are facing similar circumstances. The sharing of experiences, resources and advice will be useful support for you throughout this journey.
Read also: Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Simple Guide
We at Joyous Education understand the preparation needed to provide your child with a steppingstone for success at primary school. Skill training plays a vital role in assisting them to navigate their new environment, form friendships, learn new knowledge and enjoy their childhood experiences.
Have any questions about identifying an inclusive preschool program? Speak to Joyous’ today.
Contact Us
To speak to our Child Development experts, please fill up the form and we will be in touch soon.