Curriculum

Social

Language

Emotional

Cognitive

Hands-On

Social Development

All children need the opportunity to grow into competent, caring adults. Loving support, a nurturing environment and responsive adults all contribute to a child's social development. Consider the developmental traits below and adjust according to the specific needs of the children in your care.

Infants

• Need to be held and cuddled.
• Have distinct vocal patterns that indicate pain, hunger, discomfort and need for social interaction. They need you to respond immediately.
• Build brain connections through positive social interactions.
• Babble and coo with your responding to encourage conversation.
• Search for the source of familiar sounds.
• Like to imitate actions such as clapping and waving bye-bye.
• Are lively and responsive to people they know and trust. With others, they turn away, ignore or cry.

Toddlers

• Show fear and distrust of unfamiliar people.
• Want you in their sight constantly.
• Offer toys and objects to others and quickly take them back. Toddlers are usually possessive about playthings; one of their favorite words is "mine."
• Often repeat behaviors to get attention from throwing food to jabbering on a toy telephone.
• Respond to simple requests and directions. They understand the meaning of the word “no" but often test limits.
• Often develop an attachment to a toy, blanket or stuffed animal for security.
• Let off steam by screaming and thrashing when frustrated, tired or ignored.

Preschoolers

• Want to be included in everything.
• Begin to understand concepts like taking turns and sharing, but often are unwilling to act on their understanding.
• Test language and social skills by arguing with adults and other children.
• Need opportunities for pretend and dramatic play, especially those that explore sex-role differences in everyday life.
• Need help distinguishing real from imaginary especially with television, movie and video characters and events.
• Respond well to choices rather than commands or open-ended requests.
• Have special friends, but best friends may change frequently.
• May have imaginary companions.

Grade-schoolers

• Take part in group activities and can share materials, equipment and attention.
• Like to tell jokes and make rhymes that show off new verbal dexterity and cognitive ability.
• Help with chores and tasks cheerfully.
• Continue to need adult support and comfort but sometimes embarrassed to ask for help.
• Some are reluctant to show affection.
• Often resort to clingy, whiny or aggressive behaviors during stressful times.
• Like group games, especially board games and often compete to be the winner.
• Often rigid in defining what is right and wrong. Compromise is difficult.
• Often defend sex-role stereotypes and usually prefer to play with children of the same sex.

 

Preston Kiddie Kollege, preschool and daycare
4438 Legendary Drive, Frisco TX 75034
© 2005 Preston Kiddie Kollge