As parents, we always look for ways to help our little ones grow and thrive. A crucial part of their overall development is learning and mastering new skills. The skills children acquire now empower them to navigate the world confidently in the future. But how and where can children learn these valuable skills?
This is where early learning centres come into play. As parents, we play an important role in our child’s learning and development, but serving all of it is impossible! Early childhood education offers a wealth of learning experiences and opportunities while also developing important skills to thrive both in school and later in life.
Let’s take a look at some of the essential skills your child can learn at childcare and the benefits they’ll receive from them.
Literacy and numeracy skills
Children benefit cognitively from activities and experiences offered at an early learning centre. They learn language skills, counting, and handwriting skills that support them throughout primary school. Often, these learning experiences are disguised as “play”, so children are more likely to enjoy the learning process!

Social skills
Attending childcare allows children to develop social skills beyond their family, which can work wonders for their social and emotional development.
Typically, stay-at-home parents spend a great deal of time organising playdates with other children so that their child can interact with other people their age and build the necessary social skills needed to make and maintain friendships. Childcare is just an extension of these values! Children are socialising on a day-to-day basis, giving them plenty of opportunities to form friendships.
Children interact with many people during their time at childcare, including other children, their educators, and members of the wider community. This time spent building relationships and learning about group dynamics promotes important values such as kindness and respect for others.
These interactions play a vital role in the development of key social competencies, such as effective communication, cooperation, empathy, active listening, and emotional intelligence. Through various activities and discussions, children learn to recognise and understand the emotions of others. This empathic understanding helps children navigate conflicts and build strong relationships.

Critical-thinking skills
Childcare introduces children to the basic concepts of literacy, numeracy, science, and other subjects through hands-on learning experiences. They learn to ask questions, make predictions, and draw conclusions, supporting their cognitive development.
In addition to subject-specific areas, childcare promotes critical-thinking skills in a more holistic way. Every day, children are encouraged to think creatively, use their imagination, and solve problems. By engaging in activities such as puzzles, building blocks, and playing games, they are challenged to use their thinking abilities, problem-solving skills, and reasoning skills with confidence.

Sharing
In childcare, children are immersed in a supportive environment where sharing is encouraged and rewarded. These instances include playing with toys, participating in group activities, or enjoying a meal.
Through these experiences, children learn the value of taking turns, respecting the needs of others, and finding joy in giving. By teaching children to share, we nurture their ability to connect with others and contribute positively to the wider community.
At childcare, young children learn how to share, but will also experience what it feels like to let things go. Maybe they’ll find another toy to play with, or perhaps they’ll learn to accept the fact that they can’t have everything they want.

Good manners
At childcare, children are introduced to the concept of good manners through daily routines, structured activities, and constant interactions with their peers and caregivers. In no time, they learn essential social etiquette such as saying “please’ and “thank you”, sharing, and practicing good table manners.
Good manners teach children how to be polite and considerate of others. This paves the way for positive social interactions and respectful relationships in their adult lives.

Communication skills
Effective communication is another crucial skill children can learn at childcare. This skill helps children express themselves while fostering positive relationships with their peers and educators.
In childcare settings, children are immersed in a rich social environment that offers plenty of opportunities to practice and refine their communication. Children spend plenty of time talking, listening, reading, storytelling, and singing, which teach young children the basics of language, written and spoken communication, and conversation skills like listening.
Good communication skills also help children to regulate their emotions. Through educator-guided activities, group discussions, and peer interactions, children are able to recognise and practice expressing their feelings. This vital skill enables children to communicate their feelings, needs, and desires — the foundation of healthy relationships in the future.
Non-verbal communication is another crucial aspect of communication that young children learn during their time at childcare. Through observation and practice, children are able to interpret and use body language, facial expressions, and gestures to convey their emotions and understand others. These non-verbal communication skills are essential for forming connections and understanding social cues.

Motor skills
During their time at childcare, a child’s motor skills can improve greatly. Through a range of early learning activities and experiences, children are given plenty of opportunities to practice their fine and gross motor skills.
In childcare, many arts and crafts activities such as painting, drawing, and using scissors provide opportunities for children to test their fine motor skills. These activities help to strengthen their hand muscles, refine their finger movements, and improve hand-eye coordination. They also learn to control these movements with increasing accuracy, enabling them to write and draw with greater proficiency.
On the other hand, activities such as constructive play, outdoor activities, and organised games promote the development of gross motor skills in young children. At Reggio Emilia, we also implement a holistic sports and yoga program that encourages children to move their bodies and find joy in physical activity. Through running, jumping, balancing, and climbing, children are given ample opportunities to develop their gross motor skills.ur child has done well. For example, “Thanks for getting your lunchbox out of your bag. You have such a good memory!”

Creative expression
Beyond verbal communication, children express themselves in many unique ways — a concept referred to as the “100 languages of children”.
Through childcare, children are introduced to artistic endeavours such as art, music, and dramatic play. These activities invite children to explore their creativity, experiment with different materials and techniques, and express themselves in new ways.

Independence
Early childhood education promotes a wide range of abilities and life skills that foster a sense of independence from a young age. These foundational skills include self-help skills such as dressing, eating, and personal hygiene, decision-making skills, time management, and resilience.
Responsibility is another important life skill that childcare promotes through tasks and activities. Children may be assigned roles such as line leader or classroom helper, which instil a sense of accountability. Children learn to take ownership of their actions, fulfil their duties, and realise the importance of being responsible members of a community.
Many children aren’t faced with the reality of leaving their parents until kindergarten. This can result in distressing reactions when suddenly separated at the school doors. Childcare eases children into slowly separating from their parents and reducing separation anxiety during big school.

Cooperation and teamwork
Play is a fundamental aspect of early childhood education. Children have the opportunity to engage in collaborative activities, games, and projects that require teamwork. They learn how to take turns, share, compromise, and cooperate.
These skills pave the way for good sportsmanship and show children how to work as a team in school sports or at their first job later in life.

Childcare is so much more than a place for your child to spend time — it is a crucial step in your child’s social and emotional development. Through structured routines, purposeful activities, and engaging learning experiences, children learn meaningful life skills to prepare them for big school and beyond!
At Reggio Emilia, we understand the significance of fostering these skills and take great pride in our commitment to engaging learning experiences, quality care, and innovative practices. We believe that children play a vital role in their own learning and development, and encourage children to pursue their own interests and expand on their ideas at a comfortable pace.
If you would like to learn more about the Reggio Emilia approach, feel free to reach out to us on 02 9891 2222 or email us at mail@reggioemilia.com.au.