What are the important skills a child should develop and at what age?
1 July 2024
As parents, we are dedicated to enhancing our children's lives in every possible way. One crucial aspect that holds immense importance is ensuring that our children develop the necessary skills at the appropriate stages of their growth. Among the most pivotal periods of early childhood development and learning are the first five years of life. It is the period during which children undergo rapid physical, emotional, cognitive, and social growth. During these years, children not only mature physically and emotionally but also acquire essential skills such as communication, critical thinking, and social interaction. Hence, fostering the development of both gross and fine motor skills during this early phase is paramount. A significant child development milestone that involves a child’s readiness for formal education is school. While it may be tempting to equate school readiness solely with a child's ability to read, write their name, or count to ten, its scope extends far beyond these academic accomplishments. Instead, school readiness encompasses a child's overall preparedness to thrive in a classroom environment. Let us learn more about the important skills that a child should develop and at what age:
Important Skills for Early Childhood Development
Preschool serves as a pivotal platform for nurturing and enhancing children’s fundamental skills. These skills are essential for equipping the students for a lifetime of learning and empowering them to positively impact their surroundings. Here are some of the essential skills every child should cultivate during their preschool years:
Emotional Development
Preschool fosters an environment where children learn to recognise and manage their emotions, as well as empathise with others. This lays the foundation for healthy emotional intelligence.
Social Skills
Through interactive play and collaborative learning experiences, children develop essential social skills such as cooperation, empathy, and communication.
Early Literacy Development
Beginning as early as age three, preschoolers engage in activities that introduce them to basic literacy concepts. This exposure sets the stage for future reading and writing success in kindergarten and beyond.
Listening Skills
The ability to listen attentively and follow instructions is crucial for both academic and social learning. Preschool activities are designed to cultivate strong listening skills in children.
Communication Skills
Preschool provides opportunities for children to practice verbal and nonverbal communication. The activities may include asking questions, expressing emotions, and conveying needs, which are essential for early childhood development.
Fine motor skills
Engaging in hands-on activities such as drawing, cutting, and crafting in preschool promotes the development of fine motor skills.
Child Development Milestones
Developmental milestones encompass skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving "bye-bye." Children achieve milestones in various aspects of their development, including play, learning, speech, behaviour, and motor skills. Let us look at month by month child development milestones:
Age |
Social/Emotional Milestones |
Language/Communication Milestones |
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving) |
Movement/Physical Development Milestones |
6 Months |
- Recognises familiar people.
- Enjoys looking at self in a mirror.
- Expresses laughter.
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- Engages in turn-taking by making sounds with others.
- Blows "raspberries" (sticks tongue out and blows).
- Makes squealing noises.
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- Explores objects by putting them in their mouth.
- Reaches out to grab desired toys.
- Indicates dislike by closing lips to refuse more food.
|
- Rolls from tummy to back.
- Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy.
- Support oneself while sitting by leaning on hands.
|
1 year |
- Engages in interactive games with parents, such as playing pat-a-cake
|
- Demonstrates waving "bye-bye".
- Begins to use words like "mama," "dada," or other special names to refer to parents or caregivers.
- Shows understanding of simple commands, such as "no," by pausing briefly or ceasing the current action.
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- Demonstrates object permanence by placing objects into containers, such as placing a block into a cup.
- Exhibits curiosity and problem-solving skills by searching for hidden objects, such as a toy hidden under a blanket.
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- Pulls up to a standing position.
- Takes assisted steps while holding onto furniture for support.
- Drinks from a cup held by an adult, without a lid.
- Refines fine motor skills by picking up small objects between the thumb and pointer finger.
|
2 years |
- Demonstrates empathy by reacting to others' emotions, such as pausing or looking concerned when someone is crying.
- Observes parents’ facial expressions to understand how to respond in unfamiliar situations.
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- Participates in interactive reading by pointing to objects in a book when prompted, such as locating a bear when asked.
- Begins combining at least two words to form simple phrases, such as saying "More milk".
- Identifies and points to at least two body parts when requested.
- Expands communication beyond gestures like waving and pointing, incorporating gestures such as blowing kisses or nodding in agreement.
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- Demonstrates hand-eye coordination by holding an object in one hand while manipulating it with the other, such as holding a container and removing its lid.
- Engages in exploration and problem-solving by attempting to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy.
- Demonstrates imaginative play by engaging with multiple toys simultaneously, such as arranging toy food on a toy plate.
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- Demonstrates coordination and motor skills by kicking a ball.
- Begins to run.
- Climbs stairs with or without assistance, focusing on walking rather than climbing.
- Demonstrates self-feeding skills by using a spoon independently.
|
3 years |
- Exhibits self-soothing behaviour within 10 minutes after separation, such as during childcare drop-offs.
- Demonstrates social awareness by noticing and joining other children in play activities.
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- Engages in conversational turn-taking by participating in at least two back-and-forth exchanges with parents.
- Asks questions using interrogative words like "who," "what," "where," or "why," such as inquiring about the whereabouts of mommy or daddy.
- Describes actions depicted in pictures or books when prompted, such as identifying activities like "running," "eating," or "playing".
- Recites their first name when prompted.
- Communicates effectively enough for others to understand the majority of the time.
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- Demonstrates emerging drawing skills by replicating a circle with guidance.
- Exhibits safety awareness by avoiding touching hot objects, such as a stove, after being cautioned.
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- Engages in stringing activities, such as threading large beads or macaroni.
- Demonstrates independence by dressing themselves in some clothing items, such as loose pants or a jacket.
- Displays proficiency in using a fork for eating.
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Way Forward
As parents, our foremost goal is to enrich our children's lives by ensuring they develop essential skills at each stage of their growth. The first five years of a child's life represent a critical period marked by rapid physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development. By recognising the importance of early child development milestones and understanding the skills children should cultivate during their preschool years, we can better support their holistic growth and prepare them for success in school and beyond. Through guidance, nurturing environments, and engaging activities, we empower our children to thrive and make positive contributions to the world around them.
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