A List of Suggested Skills and Concepts

I came across the following list on the Universal Preschool site; based on Piaget's cognitive stages of development, these concepts are what educators have agreed that little ones (2-5 years old) should be able to learn and master.

To be perfectly honest, it has been awhile since I've studied Piaget; that college course was a loooooong time ago. It was good to have a little refresher and remember how it is that toddlers and preschoolers learn. Furthermore, it was wonderful to get an idea of what the Little Lady should be learning over the next few years; I feel a bit less stressed now, having a concrete list of objectives AND knowing that these concepts aren't ones that she must master over the next 6 months. There's plenty of time . . . plus, there are several skills that she has already mastered. Yay for the Little Lady!!!

According to information at Universal Preschool, planned learning and play activities should help toddlers/preschoolers to:

Understand Size:

• Big and Little
• Long and Short
• Match Objects Based on Shape

Identify Colors and Shapes:

• Recognize and name primary colors - red, yellow, blue, green, white, black.
• Recognize and identify circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles.
• Match objects based on shape.
• Copy a shape on paper.

Identify Numbers & Count:

• Recognize numbers from 1-10.
• Count to ten.
• Count objects in one-to-one correspondence.
• Understands more and less.

Reading Readiness Concepts & Skills:

• Has been read to daily.
• Has own books.
• Looks at books and magazines.
• Uses left-to-right progression.
• Pretends to read.
• Understands that print carries a message.
• Recognizes some nursery rhymes.
• Looks at pictures and tells a story.
• Answers questions about a short story.
• Knows what a letter is and is familiar with the alphabet.
• Remembers objects from a given picture.
• Pronounces own first and last name.
• Identifies own first name in manuscript.
• Prints own first name.
• Identifies other children by name.
• Expresses self verbally.
• Can repeat a sentence of 6-8 words.
• Can complete an incomplete sentence with proper word.
• Tells the meaning of simple words.
• Identifies parts of the body.
• Identifies objects that have a functional use.
• Knows common farm and zoo animals.

Listening and Sequencing:

• Follows simple directions.
• Listens to a short story.
• Listens attentively.
• Recognizes common sounds.
• Can repeat a sequence of sounds.
• Can repeat a sequence of numbers.
• Retells simple stories in sequence.

Position and Direction:

• Child should understand:
  
  • up and down
  • in and out
  • front and back.
  • over, on, and under
  • top, bottom, middle
  • beside and next to
  • hot and cold.
  • fast and slow
  • full and empty
  • day and night
  • time - such as morning, noon, night
  • knows age and birthday
  • Can identify a calendar
  
  

Motor Skills:

• Child is able to:
  
  • run
  • walk a straight line
  • jump
  • hop
  • alternate feet walking down stairs
  • march
  • stand on one foot for 5-10 seconds
  • walk backwards for five feet
  • throw a ball
  • paste objects
  • clap hands
  • matches simple objects
  • touches fingers
  • button a garment
  • builds with blocks
  • completes simple puzzles (5 pieces or less)
  • draw and color beyond a simple scribble
  • zip a zipper
  • control pencil and crayon well
  • cut simple shapes with scissors (handles scissors well)
  • copy simple shapes