MOTOR SKILLS
Visual, gross, and fine motor skills involve independent skills, but also must operate in an integrated manner.
- Visual motor skills involve taking in information visually and understanding what is seen.
- Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body including the torso, arms, and legs.
- Fine motor skills involve the small muscles of the hands and fingers.
These systems are integrated to allow us to take in information visually, process it, and produce coordinated and effective gross and fine motor actions. The integration of visual and motor skills are early indicators of math and literacy readiness. We have provided links to sites that provide information and activities to support your child’s motor development.
- 03. Preschoolers (3-5) Archives – Mama OT
- 10 Station Sensory-Motor Walk Activities for School – Free Printable | Growing Hands-On Kids
- 10 Crossing Midline Exercises For Kids | Growing Hands-On Kids
- 30 Gross Motor Activities for Kids
- Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers – The Inspired Treehouse
- Gross Motor Activities for Busy Kids – How Wee Learn
- The Parents’ Guide to Gross Motor Skills for Preschoolers – Empowered Parents
- Fine Motor Skills Checklist for Preschoolers (Ages 3-5 Years Old)
- Developmental Progression of Scissor Skills: 35 Best Tips for Teaching Kids to Use Scissors!
- 10. Self-Care Skills Archives – Mama OT
- 17 of the Best Preschool Fine Motor Activities that Involve Squeezing
- 50 Free Fine Motor Activity Ideas for Children Ages 3-6
- 03. Preschoolers (3-5) Archives – Mama OT
- Teaching Handwriting without Tracing Sheets – Fantastic Fun & Learning
- 55+ Ways to Strengthen Fine Motor Skills at Home
- 6 Pre-Writing Activities for Kids
LITERACY
Here you will find sites that provide information about reading to your child, activities for learning to identify letters and their sounds, and writing letters. You will also find some sites with book recommendations.
- STEAM Storytime Activities for Preschool – Preschool STEAM –
- For Parents — Written & Bound
- Book Lists Archives – Fantastic Fun & Learning
- Book Related Activities Archives – Fantastic Fun & Learning
- Preschool Literacy 101
- 17 Hands-On Winter Literacy Activities
- BLB’s List of 10 Wonderful Wordless Picture Books for Children, Ages 0-3 Years –
- The Power of the Pen: Drawing and Scribbling | Illinois Early Learning Project
MATH
Links to sites that encourage a love of math. Math is all around us and many of these sites will show you how easy it is to use the language of math all day with your child! Hands-on, play based learning is the best way to learn math and it’s fun!
- Easy Ways to Build Math Skills at Home
- Math Archives – Fantastic Fun & Learning
- https://earlymath.erikson.edu/
ideas/?fwp_grade_level=1-pre-k - Measuring Activity For Preschoolers | Little Bins for Little Hands
- 10 Things to Know About Math | NAEYC
- Number Weave Activity – Toddler at Play
- 40 Children’s Books That Foster a Love of Math | Development and Research in Early Math Education
SCIENCE
All children are scientists! Kids are naturally curious and full of questions. These sites will provide some fun ideas to encourage your young scientist. Don’t be afraid to get a little messy! It’s part of the fun!
- Science Archives – Fantastic Fun & Learning
- 100+ Preschool Science Activities & Preschool Science Experiments!! | Preschool Powol Packets
- Little Bins for Little Hands | Simple Science and STEM for Every Day
- Rainbow Pouring Station Kids Activity – Busy Toddler
- Science Archives – Teaching Mama
- Edible Science Experiments | Little Bins for Little Hands
- Scientific Method For Kids with Examples | Little Bins for Little Hands
- Color Changing Milk Experiment for Kids to Magically Mix Colors
- Science for Kids – Best Children’s Books for Teaching Science in K-8
These sites provide ideas to help your child learn to understand and control their emotions, feel empathy for others and have healthy relationships.
- 9 Ways To Explore Emotions With Toddlers & Preschoolers
- 100+ Social Skills Activities For Preschoolers – Kiddie Matters
- Self-Control: 50+Ways to Help Preschoolers Practice Self-Control – Kiddie Matters
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES
This link will give you a checklist of general milestones by age that your child will progress through.
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL