Kids start going to Schools from varying ages - as early as 2 years to Pre-School or sometimes at 4 years to Lower KG. They typically reach First Grade at 6 years. What they learn in these early years (2-6) are not hard-governed by any curriculum.
Various studies suggest that this is a critical age for learning, where they learn fast, in a fun way, and without any stress of learning. Scientific researchers claim that the human brain develops 85% in this age.
Let us take a look at what they typically learn in the early years:
- Concepts: They get introduced to a lot of concepts like Shapes, Colours etc (more below). These lessons are mainly pictorial and tactile wherever possible. Audio Visual tools also come very handy at this stage.
- Numbers: Children get to learn the idea of numbers - Counting objects, Numbers in Sequence and Digit Recognition. They are usually taught in two stages, first 1-9 and then 10-20
- Listening: They listen to what you speak. Rhymes and Stories add a lot of value here. Concentration, Observation, and Listening Comprehension are the key skills they acquire when adequately exposed to storytelling.
- Speaking: Children are great listeners, and so they start speaking on their own, without being taught. You will be surprised at how quickly and easily they pick a new language. We just have to ensure that, when they listen to a language, it is spoken in the right way.
- Reading: Kindergarten is where they learn the alphabet, starting with Sounds (Phonics), recognizes some Sight Words, and sometimes start reading short sentences.
- Writing: Children start with Pre-Writing Skills like standing lines, tracing shapes, curves, etc. They do a lot of coloring, connecting dots, and maze-kind puzzles. These exercises help to develop Fine Motor Skills (Hand Eye Co-ordination). Then they get on to lowercase letters and small words.
Various Concepts, which children get introduced to in Pre-KG/KG:
- Colours, Shapes
- Fruits, Vegetables
- Birds, Animals
- Weather, Nature
- Music, Sounds
- Human Body Parts, Emotions - Sad & Happy
- Sun, Moon and Stars
- Good Habits, Healthy Food, Hygiene
- Modes of Transport, Community/Professions
- Events of a Day from Morning to Evening, Sunrise & Sunset, Day & Night
- Sings Monday to Sunday, Jan to Dec
Don’t be surprised by the long list! Children observe and learn whatever they come across. You have to just ensure they are exposed to the right things. Let them just learn and relate things when it is all fun (but not yet methodical learning).