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LIVING SKILLS SUBJECTS AND EDUCATIONAL GOALS FOR AGES 1 - 3
Living Skills
Children 1 – 3 years of age are mainly concerned about their survival and comfort. Therefore, their physical needs, then their emotional needs are their primary concern. Once children 1-3 years of age realize that other people contribute to the fulfillment of their physical and emotional needs, their social needs become a focus. Only after their physical, emotional, and social needs are met does the focus expand to include their intellectual needs.
Given this developmental progression, it is recommended that parents enhance their toddlers’ natural development and growth by teaching them age-appropriate Living Skills that can help them process their current life experiences in positive ways.
Here are the LIVING SKILLS SUBJECTS AND EDUCATIONAL GOALS for AGES 1 – 3 presented in developmental categories and sequencing.
BODY AWARENESS AND INTERACTION
MY BODY – Educational goals should be to teach children the names for the external parts of their bodies and encourage them to appreciate their bodies.
LOOKING – Educational goals should be to explain the importance of the sense of sight in children’s perceptions of the world and help them develop the visual awareness they need in order to learn effectively.
LISTENING – Educational goals should be to explain the importance of the sense of sight in children’s perceptions of the world and help them develop the visual awareness they need to learn effectively
TASTING – Educational goals should be to explain the importance of the sense of taste in children’s perceptions of the world and help them develop the sensory awareness they need to learn effectively.
SMELLING – Educational goals should be to explain the importance of the sense of smell in children’s perceptions of the world and help them develop the olfactory awareness they need to learn effectively.
TOUCHING – Educational goals should be to explain the importance of the sense of touch in children’s perceptions of the world and help them develop the tactile awareness they need to learn effectively.
PHYSICAL AWARENESS AND INTERACTION
MEALTIME – Educational goals should be to encourage children to eat food that is good for them and provide them with helpful guidelines for eating properly.
BATHTIME – Educational goals should be to explain why bathing is necessary and tell children how they can make bathtime safe and fun.
GETTING DRESSED – Educational goals should be to help children understand the purpose of clothing and teach them how to dress themselves.
BEDTIME – Educational goals should be to explain why sleep is necessary and present children with positive ways to approach and prepare for bedtime.
POTTY TRAINING – Educational goals should be to help motivate children to accept toilet training by acknowledging their fears about using the toilet and by teaching them how to use it properly.
ILLNESS – Educational goals should be to teach children what they can do to prevent illness and how they can help themselves get well when they become sick.
FAMILY AWARENESS AND INTERACTION
MOMMIES AND DADDIES – Educational goals should be to encourage children to be more understanding and respectful of their parents and explain why sometimes parents get to be “the boss.”
BROTHERS AND SISTERS – Educational goals should be to help children find acceptable ways of handling the thoughts, feelings, and interactions that occur in their sibling relationships.
GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS – Educational goals should be to encourage children to appreciate their grandparents and teach them how to treat their grandparents with kindness and respect.
RELATIVES – Educational goals should be to help children understand how members of a family are related and teach them acceptable ways to behave toward their relatives.
DIFFERENT FAMILIES – Educational goals should be to teach children that families come in “all shapes and sizes” and encourage each child to appreciate and respect his or her own family.
PETS – Educational goals should be to help children develop a sense of responsibility for their pets and teach them to treat animals with respect and appropriate caution.
EMOTIONAL AWARENESS AND INTERACTION
FEELINGS – Educational goals should be to define basic childhood emotions and explain how to handle those emotions in positive ways.
CRYING – Educational goals should be to explain that crying can be either an appropriate or inappropriate response and teach children positive ways of asking for the help and attention they want and need.
SECURITY OBJECTS – Educational goals should be to acknowledge the value of security objects while helping children prepare for the time when clinging to a favorite toy or blanket for comfort is no longer appropriate.
SEPARATION – Educational goals should be to help children deal with the stress of being away from the important people in their lives and explain how they can deal with short-term separation.
DANGER – Educational goals should be to help children develop an awareness of the dangers around them and encourage them to begin taking responsibility for their own health and safety.
BOREDOM – Educational goals should be to explain that children are responsible for their own entertainment and provide many ways for them to entertain themselves in constructive rather than destructive ways.
PRETENDING – Educational goals should be to acknowledge the value of make-believe while helping children understand when pretending is appropriate and when it is not.
SOCIAL AWARENESS AND INTERACTION
TRAVEL – Educational goals should be to help children prepare for travel by explaining what they need to do to remain safe and well while they are traveling.
FRIENDS – Educational goals should be to help prepare children for social interactions with other children by explaining what they can expect and what kinds of behavior are acceptable around others.
THE BABYSITTER – Educational goals should be to help children understand the role of babysitters and explain how the time they spend with their sitters can be enjoyable.
DAYCARE – Educational goals should be to help prepare children for what they are likely to see and do at day care. Also reassure them that they will be safe and will have their basic needs met while they are at day care.
PRESCHOOL – Educational goals should be to help prepare children for what they are likely to see and do at school. Also reassure them that they will be safe and will have their basic needs met while they are at school.
THE DOCTOR – Educational goals should be to help children gain control over their fear of doctors by encouraging them to become active participants when they visit the doctor’s office.
THE DENTIST – Educational goals should be to give children the information they need to overcome their fear of dentists by encouraging them to become active participants when they visit the dentist’s office.
