Week 6 - Sharing web resources

Zero to three website is my professional site of choice for this course. I am gaining deep insight on the development of babies from zero to three years. There are many areas of learning relevant to early childhood which includes brain development, parent teacher communication, care-giver and parent communication etc.

For this week’s assignment, I took a step further to look into related information on the site. I found the information on school readiness useful and relevant to my current assignment. I am yet to explore further on equity and excellence in early childhood.  I reproduce the information below for the benefit of everyone.

Children develop at their own pace and in their own way. You can help babies and toddlers

learn and grow by getting to know each child in your care and engaging in activities that

match their individual skills, needs, and interests.

Four Key Skill Areas That Help Children Get Ready for School

Language and literacy skills. Learning to communicate, first through gestures and

babbles and then through words, helps children connect to the people and world around

them. The development of language skills is the foundation for becoming literate. Reading to

children and letting them play with books helps to build their interest in books. Talking,

reading aloud, and singing all nurture children’s language skills and help them experience

stories through listening.

Thinking skills. Children are born with a drive to understand how the world works. They

start by figuring out connections such as: “I cry, Daddy comes to get me.” As they grow,

these connections become more complex, for example: “If the ball disappears under the

couch, I can use this stick to get it back.” Children learn about how the world works when

they are given the chance to explore—to shake, toss, touch, listen, stack, knock down,

bounce, and so on. When children are exploring and having fun, they are learning.

Self-control. The ability to express and manage emotions in appropriate ways is called

“self-control.” Self-control is also the ability to stop one’s self from doing something that is not

allowed. Very young children have little self-control. But you can help babies and toddlers

work on skills like cooperating, coping with frustration, sharing, and resolving conflicts which

all lead to the development of self-control.

Self-confidence. When children feel good about themselves and their abilities, they are

more willing to take on new challenges—a key ingredient for school success. Self-confidence

is important for getting along with others and developing relationships with peers, which are

key factors in enjoying and succeeding in school.

Reference

www.zerotothree.org.