Early childhood education is a lot about planning, but the truth is that without assessing the plans, children's learning, and educators' teaching methods - everything just stays still and there is no development and no clear path where to go.

All workplaces assess and measure their success, and explore how to do things better. In all businesses, it is key to:

1. Set clear objectives
2. Do the work
3. Measure the results
4. Create a feedback loop for developing the way of working

In the world of early childhood education, all this feels a bit strange and distant, but actually, when you think of it, it makes perfect sense. In the preschool world, the same thing "Assessment wheel" means:

1. Set clear learning objectives
2. Plan and run playful pedagogical activities
3. See the results and make assessments
4. Develop teaching methods in a consistent way throughout the term

After you have done all steps 1 + 2 + 3 + 4, you can start all over again. The assessment wheel will help you with many occasions year-round!

Assessment methods in early education

Assessment practices are evolving away from the examination of physical products of learning, such as worksheets and standardized assessments toward examining the process of learning. Sometimes concrete paper worksheets can still be practical and relevant, but their importance is descending.

In early childhood education learning happens mostly through play. Play is a continuum of activities including child-initiated free play, play with adult guidance, and teacher-directed play. Play often does not produce concrete documents to be assessed by educators.

But how to assess play? How to assess children's learning?

This is based on collecting pedagogical documentation of children’s individual growth and how learning unfolds within different classroom activities. Observations are done during the learning moments to provide an authentic understanding of children’s learning progress.

→ For example; if a child is making a puzzle, a teacher can take a photo of the child's learning moment in order to remember that the child succeeded and completed a puzzle of 24 jigsaw pieces in January! The photo can be shared with the child's family and put in his portfolio/learning folder.

Later on, the observations are reflected with the children, peers, and parents during the term. Everyone can see how the child succeded with the puzzle of 24 pieces in January, what will he be able to do in June? Linking observations to the learning objectives creates a continuous feedback loop to improve children’s learning and the quality of the center.

Learning assessment is continuous work, educators must observe children's play and learning moments regularly in order to see the change, growth, and steps in development.

If it seems like children do not learn new skills, achieve their learning goals, or gain knowledge that is suitable for their age, it is a good idea to rethink the educator's teaching methods and modify them to better suit the children's needs. (Often for example playing and doing activities in small groups is more beneficial for children's learning than being in a big group of 20 children.)

Technology strongly supports the assessment process

A new year and new ideas! Even the greatest ideas are nothing if they are not well organized and marked down.

• Brainstorm with the team

When thinking of activities and events for the coming year, it would be nice if every member of staff had something to look forward to. A good system is to brainstorm together with your team and think of what everyone would like to include for the coming term.

It would be great if everyone said their own ideas out loud, this way every staff member gets a chance to participate equally and bring out their individual interests and strengths.

Maybe one teacher loves puppet theater and wants to organize a puppet show for children on Valentine's day? Or one is eager to bake with the children and would like to organize a cake buffet at the kindergarten for all the families to enjoy? Whatever the teacher's personal passion, it can surely be adjusted to your early education center's plan!

Kindiedays Lesson Plans support all learning areas!

• Ask from families

It is also nice to ask for ideas from the families, about what would they like to see during spring term 2023. Perhaps they would be eager to join a theme week of professions? Some parents could prepare a short presentation and tell about their own work for the children.

• Find out children's wishes

And of course, also children's wishes need to be included! Organize for example a "children's meeting" where you go through the agenda for 2023 and write down ideas that come from children. Or have a crafting session so that every group makes their "dream board" full of activities and things they would love to have in their preschool or kindergarten.

Perhaps children would love to have a pajama day? Or go to see a concert? Disco party? Children surely are full of ideas once they get to share them.

• Mark down yearly celebrations

Every season brings also yearly celebrations along, which can be included in your preschool's calendar. Depending on traditions, seasons, and cultures, the traditions may vary between schools a lot. It is a smart idea to combine celebrations from different cultures into your preschool's calendar so that children learn about diversity.

Here are some examples of celebrations during the first months of 2023:

When the year changes, it is good to stop and evaluate what has happened and what should be done next.

Early childhood education should be the start of lifelong learning. But educators are tied up with old ways of working. They cannot be the champions they deserve to be. Parents feel locked out from their child's learning journey. Many childcare centers are also in a competitive market and want to provide the best education and care. A major change is required to respond to the need for quality education.

You must take the lead and make it happen in your preschool!

A successful ECEC center has 3 guiding principles:

• Support children's learning
• Engage families
• Secure success for the preschool

You should reimagine how the goals can be achieved by working smarter - not harder - and with the help of new technology.

It is actually straightforward

Kindiedays would like to take this time to thank you for all your support in making Early Childhood Education matter! Thank you for your cooperation in 2022. 

Included is a sneak peek into our new experiential learning-based Lesson Plan Package that’s coming out at the beginning of 2023. Let us make great things happen together also in the future!

Click HERE to get your free sneak peek!

Best wishes for a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year from our team to yours,

Team Kindiedays

Prerequisite for developing language skills, is human interaction. Child can only learn to talk and communicate with others by practicing it with an adult. Children are interested in communicating from very young age on. It is crucial that an adult systematically responds to the child's initiatives, whether it is crying, laughing or babbling.

Adult can support child's communication skills by being interested in the child's thoughts, discussing, listening and focusing on the child. Singing, reading, talking, rhyming, playing board games and joking make language skills stronger.

Milestones in language development

6 months old

The child starts to babble and use syllables, like ma-ma and pa-pa. These syllables make the child's first words later on. Learns to use many different syllables when practicing babbling and making sounds.

9 months old

The child starts to react to his own name. He enjoys it when someone tells him the names of different items in the house for example. Learns to point at things that interest him. Learns to use also other gestures, expressions, and movements (such as waving for bye-bye) and that they are an important part of communication. Likes to play linguistic games with adults.

TIPS to support language development with 0-1 year olds

• Use clear, bright colors (black, white, red, yellow) to raise the child's attention
• Play give-take games
• Look at picture books and discuss what you see
• Imitate the child's facial expressions and sounds
• Rhyme, sing
• Encourage to communicate

1 year old

The child says the first words around her first birthday. Words can be a little "off" and that is fine if they do not sound exactly how they should. The main point is that the child is trying and learning! Play is short-term and concentrates on exploring the world around her.

2 year old

Is learning to understand the world. Asks many "what" questions. Knows many words and keeps on building up his vocabulary rapidly. Can follow familiar guidelines. Can play short-time role play. Some can speak with short sentences, at least two words in a row "take apple". A child can make up his own words and it is normal.

TIPS to support language development with 1-2 year olds

• Use real words (no 'babytalk')
• Encourage them to communicate and talk
• Play hide and seek
• Practice taking turns
• Read simple stories that have repetition

3 year old

Is a talented speaker already. Usually, parents/guardians understand everything he says and can 'translate' to others if needed. He might repeat certain syllables as "ba-ba-ball" and it is normal. He can tell about his day. Understands adult conversations, but some misunderstandings occur still. Asks many "why" questions. Can play role-play along with peers.

4 year old

Enjoys talking and listening to others. She makes up poems and rhymes and listens to stories with interest. Imagination is vivid and play can go on for hours. Usually, speech is understandable and clear, but a couple of sounds might be missing. Can play with peers and children communicate during play about what is happening next.

TIPS to support language development with 3-4 year olds

• Don't correct the child's talk, but repeat the word in a correct form
• Read storybooks suitable for the child's age
• Play games that include language
• Play board games (memory games, puzzles, sorting)
• Sing, rhyme and use gestures and finger play
• Listen to sounds outside and talk about what you hear

5 year old

Language skills have developed and worked as a "tool" in daily life. Is interested in letters and numbers. He plays with words and practices many skills that are needed in school. Is interested in drawing, coloring, and construction.

6 year old

Knows letters and can write his own name. Can listen to long stories and enjoys making jokes. May recognize written words in the surroundings. Children in Finland attend preschool at the age of 6.

Support language development with Kindiedays Lesson Plans