Our PreSchool Blog

Fine motor skills can be defined as small muscle movements: those that occur in the finger, in coordination with the eyes.  They won’t develop over-night, but with time and practice.  Fine motor skills involve the small muscles of the body that enable such functions as writing, grasping small objects, and fastening clothing. They involve strength, fine motor control, and dexterity. These skills are important in most school activities as well as in life in general. Weaknesses in fine motor skills can affect a child’s ability to eat, write legibly, turn pages in a book, and perform personal care tasks such as dressing.  Fine motor skills are a main focus in our toddler and early 3’s programs and on into the preschool and PreK programs.

Dramatic Play is a cornerstone to a Toddler/Early 3’s classroom.  This is where you’ll find most of the children throughout their day.  It is a core experience where the children begin to use language with their teachers and their peers.  Other things that children learn at the dramatic play area include decision-making skills, cooperation and problem solving skills, social skills, self-expression, imaginative thinking skills, role-playing skills.

Prewriting skills are critical for students to become successful writers in the future.  Here at Tots, we include a writing center within the classroom for the students to build the skills needed for future success.  Some of the things that children will be learning while they visit the writing center are:  letter formation skills, a sense of left-to-right, associations between letters and sounds, communication skills, self-expression, creativity, fine motor skills.

Children LOVE art, and while it is a fun and a memorable activity, children are learning many skills to help them prepare for future learning.  Some of the things that they are learning while they are taking part in an art experience are  pre-writing skills, planning skills, color and shape recognition, concepts of symmetry, sensory awareness, creativity and self-expression, a sense of accomplishment.  But most of all…it is FUN!