Moving From Our Time(18 mon.-3 yrs) to Imagine That!(3-4 yrs)

Children ready for the Imagine That! class show many of the following characteristics:

Physical

  1. Has a taller, thinner, adult-like appearance.
  2. Balances on one foot, jumps in place without falling.
  3. Holds crayons in pincer grasp rather than in fist.

Emotional

  1. Recognizes needs of another person, can be empathetic.
  2. Separates from parent without crying
  3. Is developing humour.

Cognitive

  1. Knows if they are a boy or a girl.
  2. Can do simple matching games.
  3. Can name lots of animals.
  4. Recognizes basic shapes like triangle, circle, square; basic colours like red, yellow, blue.
  5. Is developing divergent thinking skills (“What animals do you like?”)
  6. Is beginning a transition from concrete to abstract thinking (humour aids this process).
  7. Is developing a longer attention span.

Language

  1. Is beginning to master rules of language: speaks in a full sentence (4-5 words), asks questions.
  2. Is extending vocabulary, growing from 300-1000 words.
  3. Can relate a series of activities, tells stories (“ We went to the grocery store, and then to Grandma's and I played with the kittens… ”)

Social

  1. Recognizes needs of another person
  2. Takes turns with less difficulty and beginning to understand reasons.
  3. Learning about patience; can accept "she is playing the wood block, and you have the tambourine today"
  4. Is starting to develop friendships.

Musical

  1. Can recite simple rhymes.
  2. Sings simple, whole songs.