How to set children up for success by promoting independence through life skills!
In the preschool classroom, teachers are always planning and evaluating their student’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills but today we are going to take a look at what many refer to as “life skills…”
Everyday Life Skills
The development of life skills often happen naturally as preschoolers spend each day doing daily tasks such as putting jackets away, pouring cups of juice, or washing hands and getting ready for snack…
Learning through Play
Life skills are an essential part of early childhood education and many kinds of life skills can be naturally promoted by  integrating these skills into children’s play (like pouring). The key for teachers is to be able to connect the dots between child’s play and the value of that play when it comes to building and promoting daily life skills…
Mastering any kind of life skill takes time and experience. As young children take part in picking up toys, wiping down a table, or serving their own snack – they are building important skills that are essential in keeping their world organized…
Developing Mastery of Life Skills
Not every life skill comes naturally – many life skills need to be introduced and then consistently encouraged and consistently taught. For life skills that need to be taught, we break down the skills into smaller steps so the children will better understand what the expectations are and how to meet those expectations successfully.  Skills such as hanging our coats on the hook and zipping up our back packs help young children take responsibility for their own things but children often need guidance and patient reminders in the process of mastering these kinds of life skills…
Life skills can range anywhere from learning to play cooperatively with others to independently taking care of one’s own belongings to the finer details of life such as zipping up a coat…
Gaining Independence
Young children need to learn these skills in a safe environment. They need to feel successful, appreciated, and valued as they make simple to large efforts in doing things on their own…
Assessment and Observation
The kinds of life skills your students will need to be successful in your classroom and even beyond the classroom vary based on their age and developmental readiness. The best assessment for life skills is observation. Take time to observe your students and as you do so, make a written or even a mental list of life skills that your children are ready to tackle and then consider how your students will be able to best master those skills. Can they be learned through play? Do they need a little coaching or guidance? Do they need more time and experience?
Perhaps you are a blogger and have written a post about this topic or can share a creative and playful idea that you have found promotes a specific life skill. Leave a comment below and share your ideas and thoughts!
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