Approaches to Learning
Children are born with an inclination to learn. This is reflected in behaviors and attitudes such as curiousity, problem-solving, maintaining attention, and persistence.
Health and Physical Development - Younger Preschoolers (33 to 48 Months)
Your young preschooler is overflowing with energy and enthusiasm - and there's so much you can do to help them develop motors skills, improve eye-hand coordination and develop confidence in their abilities. Give them plenty of opportunities for structured and unstructured activities that develop physical fitness, self care and independence.
About This Domain
The Health and Physical Development domain focuses on children’s physical growth and motor development, sound nutritional choices, self-care and health/safety practices. Healthy children who are able to move and play are ready to learn more effectively in all domains.
Demonstrate willingness to try new healthy foods when offered several times and sometimes able to make nutritious choices with support.
Feed themselves with utensils independently.
Communicate that some foods are good for them (fresh fruits, vegetables, milk) and some are not healthy (potato chips, soda).
Choose a variety of structured and unstructured physical activities indoors and outdoors.
Participate in simple games and other structured motor activities that enhance physical fitness (songs with movement, throwing and catching).
Transition from active to quiet activities with limited guidance and support.
Develop strength and stamina by spending moderate periods of time playing vigorously.
Recognize and communicate signs of being tired.
With increasing independence, start and participate in sleep routines, including listening to calming songs and/or stories.
Stay awake except during nap time.
Demonstrate increasing stamina, body strength, endurance and balance, managing uneven surfaces such as hills, ramps, and steps.
Refine movements and show generally increasing coordination (throwing and catching).
Use a variety of toys and equipment that enhance gross motor development (balls, slides, pedaling toys, assistive technology).
Move their bodies in space with increasing coordination and ability to cross the midline, such as using alternate feet on steps, touching toes on one side of the body with the opposite hand.
Engage in activities that require hand-eye coordination (build with manipulatives mold play dough, work puzzles with smaller pieces).
Draw simple shapes and figures (square for block, circles).
Use tools that require strength, control, and dexterity of small muscles (forks, crayons, markers, safety scissors, adapted tools).
Dress and undress themselves with occasional assistance.
Follow basic hygiene practices with reminders (brush teeth, wash hands, use toilet, cough into elbow).
Serve food for themselves.
Learn what their bodies can do, and primarily play within their abilities to avoid injury to self or others.
Usually recognize and avoid objects and situations that might cause harm.
Usually follow basic safety rules.
Call a trusted adult when someone gets injured or is in an unsafe situation.
The South Dakota Early Learning Guidelines serve as a shared vision for all adults supporting young children's experiences prior to entering kindergarten. Positive interactions with trusted adults, engaging with peers, and consistent environments that are safe, healthy, and enhance learning are vital elements to support young children.
Goals and Developmental Indicators describe expectations for what children learn starting with infancy and covering all ages through kindergarten entry. These goals apply to all children regardless of what language they speak, what strengths/disabilities they may have, or specific unique family circumstances. Strategies to enrich the environment, support development and learning, and adaptations provide a variety of ideas to consider.
At the “heart” of the document are tables or developmental continuums that describe children’s learning and development from birth up to kindergarten. You can find these tables under the Learning Domain tab in our main navigation. These Goals and Developmental Indicators are divided into five domains:
Children are born with an inclination to learn. This is reflected in behaviors and attitudes such as curiousity, problem-solving, maintaining attention, and persistence.
Children's feelings about themselves and their relationships with others is the foundation for personality development. These characteristics and skills impact every other area of development.
From birth, children are learning language and developing the ability to communicate. Talking, singing, reading, and responding effectively when children express themselves are great investments supporting learning.
This fascinating area of development includes understanding how children aquire, organize, and use information in increasingly complex ways. Through play, skills are developed as the foundation for exploring and understanding more sophisticated concepts.
Physical growth, muscle development, nutrition, self-care, health and safety practices are included in this area. Safe and healthy practices suppport the ability to learn more effectively in all areas.