Developmental milestones and high quality preschool programs
Date :
Thursday, September 17 2009
Source:
Autourina Mains
By preschool age children have developed multiple skills and have grown at a phenomenal rate. Just in 4 years time, the child has learned anywhere from 1000-2000 words and is able to communicate about himself. Most 4 year olds are able to:
- Use five to six word sentences (Language)
- Go up and down stairs without support (Motor, vestibular)
- Throw a ball overhand (Motor, vision)
- Understand the concept of counting and may know a few numbers (Cognitive)
- Draw a person with two to four body parts (Cognitive, motor)
- Recall parts of a story (Cognitive)
- Begin to have a clearer sense of time (cognitive)
- Understand the concepts of "same" and "different" (Cognitive)
- Imagine that many unfamiliar images may be "monsters"
- More independent (Social/emotional)
- Plays mom or dad (Social/emotional)
A preschool program desiring to offer quality curriculum must have knowledge of developmental milestones for 4-5 year olds. One of preschools’ purposes is to offer age appropriate experiences in order to help the child develop skills and be ready for school. Each year, with the permission of my parents, I invite the Child Development Center in my community to conduct a developmental screening (a free service offered by CDC as mandated by law). Though each child develops at his/her own pace, the screenings provide vital information about where the child is developmentally.
If the screening indicate possible delays in a certain domain (Speech/language, vision, hearing, motor, and concept) then further evaluations are scheduled. Child Development Centers employ qualified professionals that offer free services to qualifying children. Once a delay has been identified, a meeting is scheduled to discuss the child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). Parents are the first and foremost important component of an IEP. Parents can invite any adult they feel is important in the child’s life such as; care providers, preschool teacher, doctor, and grandparents (anyone who spends time with the child on daily basis).
Having knowledge of the developmental milestones, if I have a child with an IEP, then I design and individualize my curriculum to meet the child’s needs. For instance if I have a child in my preschool that has speech/language delays and small motor delays (which often go hand-in-hand), then I know to offer more small motor activities to the child to help him/her develop those skills. Activities like stringing beads or cereal, sewing cards, sorting beans, cutting with scissors, manipulating play dough etc. will help the child develop those small motor skills desperately needed for writing skills. These activities can be performed by the entire class and all children will benefit from the activities.
A child with speech/language delay may need me to give him more time to process information. For instance you may have experienced having to repeating a command to a child more than once. I had a little guy once who nodded his head as he comprehended my command of “Push your chair in please.” Though he nodded his head yes as if he understood me, it took him 5-8 seconds to process and follow the command because he had speech delay. At the IEP meeting, I learned that he had chronic ear infections for the first 2 years of his life which affected his speech and his processing information. A child with speech/language delay may also exhibit more behavioral outbursts as well. If a child is not able to communicate his needs and wants, he is more easily frustrated and his frustration will manifest in behavior. Rather than labeling a child as ADD, ADHD, defiant, screen the child for possible delays. Never label a child. Many conditions such as ADD or ADHD must be diagnosed by a licensed physician. Always keep in mind that behavior is a form of communication.
As the school year is starting, don’t hesitate to call your local Child Development Centers and ask them to come in and screen your preschoolers. It will help you as a provider to present the best quality preschool possible. Never screen children without parental permission.