What Are the Goals of Preschool Programs?

Preschool programs are important stepping stones in kindergarten preparation. The goals of these programs are to prepare a child for the school experience. A child who is used to playing with others and knows how to listen to his teacher will have an advantage over a child who has no experience in these areas. A good preschool program gives children advanced practice in learning classroom behavior, respect for others, and confidence when facing the new school situation.

  1. Sense of Self and Responsibility to Others

    • Preschool programs help small children as they begin to relate to each other. Each preschool student learns to communicate with other children while making a stand for his own thoughts and opinions. He should learn consideration and courtesy toward others. He will learn to make choices and to take pride in his efforts. The classroom experience will help build his self-esteem and to increase his confidence that his opinion counts.

    Fine Motor Skills

    • The preschool program should offer children a variety of activities that will develop their small motor skills. These skills will be used for mastering tasks such as cutting paper and holding a pencil during writing practice. Small motor skills take some time to develop, but they can be improved by stringing beads, putting puzzles together, connecting the dots, tracing lines and curves on a paper and filling in coloring pages. These activities help fine-tune the muscles needed for tasks that require the use of fine motor skills.

    Gross Motor Skills

    • The development of large---or gross---motor skills can aid a child in her coordination. Dancing, marching and games that work on balance are a few of the activities that work on developing large motor skills. Physical activities such as throwing and catching a ball will also help in this area. Finger movements that follow along with a chanted nursery rhyme or poem help with coordination.

    Classroom Skills Preparation

    • A good preschool program will strive to give children the foundations of learning numbers and letters. Preschool students work on letters and sounds. A child in a good preschool program learns to sit quietly and wait for her turn. She is taught to raise her hand before blurting something out, and to listen when another student is talking. She will also learn to be attentive when the teacher is talking.

    Social Play and Learning to Develop Own Interests

    • A well-structured preschool program full of learning centers guides the child in discovering new interests while playing and interacting with other children. Housekeeping corners filled with play food, play kitchens and cleaning equipment encourages role-playing and will help children use their imagination. Science centers will offer activities with magnets, weights and balances. Sensory centers teach children to learn by touch, for instance through the use of sand and water.

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