Child Development and Education

Head Start’s School Readiness Goals for Ages 0-5

Physical Development and Health

• Children will control small muscles for manipulation and exploring.
• Children will control large muscles for movement, navigation and balance.
• Children will learn and demonstrate appropriate self-health, nutrition and safety habits.

Social and Emotional Development

• Children will develop healthy relationships and interactions with adults and peers.
• Children will participate cooperatively in groups, display self-regulation skills and internalize classroom rules, routines and directions.

Approaches to Learning

• Children will use curiosity, engagement and persistence to extend their learning.
• Children will engage in diverse approaches to learning that reflects social and cultural contexts such as biology, family history, culture and individual learning styles.
• Children will learn and use words to describe what they are thinking and doing.

Language and Literacy

• Children will listen to and understand language.  (receptive)
• Children will use increasingly complex and varied vocabulary when speaking.  (expressive)
• Children who are dual language learners will demonstrate progress in the ability to listen, understand and speak English and home language.
• Children will engage appropriately with stories and books and show an appreciation and knowledge of how print works.

Cognition and General Knowledge

• Children will use math in everyday routines and experiences.
• Children will engage in exploring their environment through observation and manipulation to gain a better understanding of information and activities in their surroundings.
• Children will use their skills in remembering information and connecting new and known experiences and information.