The "Caterpillars"

Our 3- and 4- year-olds 

The caterpillars include our 3 and 4-year-old children. Young children are faced with many challenges when they first enter preschool. They must develop the confidence to work and play independently, co-operate with others and begin to deal with their own emotions and those of others. Our main goal with the catterpillar group is to develop the children`s personal and social skills but also the different aspects of language and communication skills, physical and creative skills as well as accomodating young children`s constant need to explore the world around them.

These skills include:

• settling confidently into the new group
• forming trustful relationships with adults and peers
• learning to learn with others
• becoming independent and responsible
• controlling their feelings and frustrations
• listening to others, taking turns and responding appropriately
• pre-reading and pre-writing skills (holding pencils properly, tracing, pricking etc. leading to the recognition of the sound system and writing skills in the butterfly group)
• developing problem-solving skills
• Developing mathematical concepts through play with concrete objects (leading to the more abstact mathematical concept in the butterfly group)
• developing fine and gross motor skills (moving with confidence, control and co-ordination, showing awareness of space of themselves and of others, handling small objects)
• developing an understanding of the world around them by investigating different objects and materials, finding out about features of living things, objects and events they observe and by learning to ask questions about why and how things work.