Along the developmental stages, individuals are subjected to different curriculums. The curriculum for preschoolers is often tailored to support their learning and development. An effective curriculum increases learners' knowledge and skills capable of understanding the world and solving various issues. Learning to speak, holding a pencil, write, and reading among preschoolers takes significant time and turns ( Sunday & Conley, 2020). Considering that most of the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development occurs during childhood, it is necessary to devise teaching and learning programs that meet the extended needs of kids. Blooms' taxonomy helps teachers develop learning outcomes based on the cognitive levels that should be followed progressively. Piaget's, Freud's, Erikson's, and Vygotsky's theories provide critical information on the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive domains necessary while designing learning programs for preschoolers. The paper will develop a preschool program for children aged 3-5, encompassing the four aspects of development.
Preschool Program for Children aged 3-5
The program aims to provide the preschoolers with an exciting adventure to interact with the environment and others and explore their interests. Also, it provides independence, knowledge, and skills, and personality to enhance the smooth upbringing of the child. Learning takes place through interactions, exposure to new concepts, purposeful plays, and new experiences.
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Learning Objectives for Preschoolers
The school and classroom environment should create a structured and nurturing environment that enhances the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive aspects of kids ( Shute & Slee, 2015)
Physical Development Skills
By the end of a stipulated period, the learner should be able to:
Actively play and apply multiple motor skills such as rolling, jumping, and kicking.
Use tools that require the coordination of various skills and safe handling, such as scissors.
Show dexterity and fine motor skills through drawing, lacing, threading, or stacking.
To develop such skills, I would teach the preschooler muscle control and balance skills, body awareness, health, wellness, rest techniques, and self-help skills such as dressing. I would encourage learners to engage regularly in plays. Plays build self-esteem, problem-solving skills, vocabulary use, creativity, and independence. Freud's and Erikson's theories correspond to the behaviors exhibited by the child in this area. According to the second stage of Freud's psychosexual theory, a child develops a sense of capability and productivity ( Shute & Slee, 2015). Similarly, Erikson's stage of autonomy versus shame and doubt indicates increased mobility and control. Preschoolers who are helped at this stage may become more confident and independent in the future.
Social Skills
The program will help the preschoolers to:
Have a self-sense and care.
Develop friendships.
Demonstrate delayed gratification.
Participate in voluntary work such as cleaning.
To enhance the above social skills, first, I would understand the nature of each child. Shy and introverted preschoolers should not be forced to interact. Such children may fit in smaller groups or may gain confidence through role-playing. Erikson's stage of initiative versus guilt suggests while some kids find purpose, others still struggle with guilt to fit in the society. Apart from that, I would be a role model in establishing cordial relationships and volunteering in social works. According to Vygotsky, children acquire social skills and problem-solving techniques through interactions with more knowledgeable members of society ( Shute & Slee, 2015). Also, I would teach the preschoolers the need for empathy to help them find purpose and associate with others.
Emotional Skills
The program should help learners to:
Regulate their behaviors and emotions.
Engage in learning.
Develop self-esteem
Create healthy relationships with others.
Understand themselves better.
From the age of 3-6, Erikson and Freud believe children develop an emotional attachment and interpersonal skills. Freud talks about the Oedipus and Electra complexes ( Shute & Slee, 2015). Erikson tips that some kids delay developing such interpersonal skills making it difficult to know more about themselves and connect with others. I would help struggling preschoolers develop their emotional skills through fun activities. One of the activities I would introduce is plastic egg faces. I will draw several human faces, teach them various emotions shown on the front, and exchange their faces. Besides, I may exercise robot flashcards, emotion sorting games, and calm down yoga.
Cognitive Skills
Language and Literacy
The curriculum should help learners recognize upper and lower case letters, discriminate rhymes and similar phonemic sounds while speaking or reading, demonstrate strong comprehension skills, and show sound and pronunciation mastery.
Art and Social Sciences
Kids should demonstrate a sense of diversity and appreciation of the music through listening, singing, or dancing.
Maths and Science
The program should assist preschoolers in identifying shapes quickly, make comparisons, replicate and draw basic shapes such as squares and quantify using numbers ( Sunday & Conley, 2020).
According to Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development, children progressively undergo intellectual development characterized by increased sophistication of thought. In this case, kids are at the preoperational stage characterized by intuitive thinking ( Shute & Slee, 2015). The child judges things by how they look rather than how they are in reality. Consequently, I may improve the preschoolers' cognitive skills through the use of toys. Toys develop a sense of discovery and exploration. I would recommend some of the toys: bath letters and numbers, dado cubes, animals and rhyming words, and learn puzzles. Apart from that, I would sing along with kids and practice counting numbers and drawing shapes ( Sunday & Conley, 2020). I may also visit adventurous places to stimulate learning and long-time acquisition of knowledge.
Conclusion
The curriculum for preschoolers needs to include unique and robust learning instructions, objectives, and outcomes since the kids are at a critical stage of development. Teaching and learning should impart necessary physical, social, emotional, and cognitive skills. The teacher should apply theories of development by Freud, Piaget, Vygotsky, and Erikson to understand the needs of preschoolers and create educational programs which meet them.
References
Shute, R. H., & Slee, P. T. (2015). Child development: Theories and critical perspectives . Routledge.
Sunday, K., & Conley, K. (2020). Drawing at the Center of an Emergent Preschool Curriculum. Art Education , 73 (6), 18-23.
