Dec 09, 2024 Little Bookworm Chronicles: Early Learning Standards
Indiana’s Early Learning Standards
Most caregivers at some point wonder what age-appropriate skills a young child should exhibit. There are key developmental milestones at every stage of a child’s life, and it can be overwhelming for caregivers to know which resources to access.
You might remember growing up and being expected to meet your state’s academic standards for each grade level. What many people don’t realize is that most states also have academic standards or foundations for early childhood education, which are just as important as the standards set for older grade levels.
The academic standards for Early Childhood in Indiana are called the Indiana Learning Standards. Indiana’s “Early Learning Standards” outline learning expectations for children from birth through kindergarten. While looking at the foundations can seem daunting, the Indiana Department of Education has created helpful resources.
The Early Learning Family Guides, available in English and Spanish, provide a simple overview of each standard and suggest ways families can support their children’s learning at home. Additionally, the Indiana Department of Education website offers a summary of kindergarten readiness skills in English and Spanish.
A fun way to let your toddler or preschooler practice their early writing skills during this special time of the year is to let them make home-made cards for their family and friends. There is no need to purchase anything; just use your creativity to find items around your house: paper, cardstock, stickers, ribbons, stamps, wrapping paper. Not only will your child have a blast doing this, but they will be working on importing pre-writing skills such learning how to manipulate writing tools and learning to scribble, draw lines, simple shapes, and/or letters.
Enjoy reading and learning with your little bookworm!