The EYLF is a guide which consists of Principles, Practices and 5 main Learning Outcomes along with each of their sub outcomes, based on identity, community, wellbeing, learning and communicating. The Learning Outcomes are to be used to reflect on children’s learning and focus on what a child can achieve rather than what they can’t. The Early Years Learning Framework enables childcare professionals, educators and early childhood teachers within an early childhood setting to extend and enrich children’s learning, provide opportunities for children to develop a foundation for learning and for children to become successful learners.
During this stage, school age children have developed an increasing need of independence and become more socially accepting of peers. Play becomes more complex, with rules being established in group games and games are focused on having a “winning” team or being called the “winner” at the end of a game. Competitiveness begins to emerge as school age children continue to compare themselves with school peers. It is also common at this age, for school age children to have unstable friendships as they start to be unkind towards each other.
At this point preschoolers begin to interact effectively with others. Play becomes more innovative and organized and “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” begins to emerge. Preschoolers have developed an understanding for other’s feelings and become more sensitive. They will also want to be given more responsibility and enjoys helping out with chores... basically at this stage a preschooler is a mini adult.
Toddlers want to do more on their own and do not like it when you begin to establish limits on their behaviour. Tantrums can become frequent when a toddler can't get what they want. This is a natural part of their social and emotional development. Toddlers are also curious about other people and will tend to stare at anyone who attracts their attention.
Toddlers use language in more sophisticated ways during this phase of their life. This occurs as a toddler has a better grasp of the rules of the language, through increased vocabulary and learning new skills. They are becoming increasingly familiar with the concept of conversation and through play and social interactions it strengthens and improves their verbal skills.
The language development of a school age child is quite vast and typically a wide variety of words are used to communicate thoughts, ideas and feelings. They often get over excited while talking, which may result in stuttering but normally this is only temporary. At this age, speech is of second nature and both speech and language are easily understood. School age children will also enjoy manipulating words by mimicking or teasing and begin to experiment with popular school chants and tongue twisters. Riddles and jokes are also common by this stage as they continue to build upon their vocabulary.
Preschoolers enjoy talking and are happy to tell their ideas or what they're thinking. They combine words with gestures and facial expressions to make their stories more believable and interesting. Words begin to flow easily and with little effort. During this age, preschoolers will have an endless amount of questions and seeks more detailed information about events or topics that interest them.
Babies use of language at this stage changes so much that it's hard to notice all the key changes that occur. By the end of this period a baby has transformed from non-verbal communicator into an active talker.
Toddler advance and gains new skills in Gross Motor Development milestones achieved throughout earlier years. Co-ordination and challenges that could not be performed before such as hopping, skipping and balancing are now easier to attempt. Toddlers are more agile and athletic during this stage than before.
A school age child’s physical development has increased considerably at this point. Gross motor skills such as running, climbing etc. are of ease and a need of challenging physical activities are required (such as roller skating, bike riding, tennis etc.). There is an increase in balance, co-ordination and a confidence in using and experimenting with outdoor equipment (monkey bars, climbing frames, etc.). School age children can sometimes push the boundaries in their physical abilities and tend to have frequent minor accidents during games and while playing.
At this age, preschoolers make big progress in gross motor skills such as running, jumping, balancing and climbing. Their movement becomes agile and more controlled and learning ability also begins to increase. This enables preschoolers to take part in a variety of activities.
Babies will begin to find new ways of moving themselves around the house and has improved balance and body movements. These movements that a baby displays are often referred to as gross motor development.
As your toddler progresses during this stage, Fine Motor Development becomes increasingly important. Not because this helps your toddler become more independent, it's because it is linked to problem solving and cognitive development & learning.
Fine motor skills have improved during this point, with increased concentration and patience. These improvements in fine motor development allow school age children to focus and develop a wider variety of tasks, using their small muscles (especially arts n craft activities).
