Social and Emotional Skills for Preschoolers

Two and three-year-olds are learning to…

• Have a sense of themselves as individuals
• Develop strong relationships with familiar adults other than their primary caregiver(s)
• Name emotions
• Identify emotions in themselves and others
• Use words to express their feelings, needs and desires
• Begin to regulate their emotions, using new coping strategies for when they are upset, with adult support
• Use self help skills: dressing and undressing independently

To make homemade play dough:

Mix:

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

2 Tablespoons cream of tartar

Add:

2 cups of very HOT water (almost boiling)

Food coloring

Mix until you get a good consistency. There may be some flour left in the bowl. If it is too runny, add some flour. If it is too dry, add a little water.

After it cools, your kids can play with it.

Store in an

It is often harder to get children to clean up at home than it is in a group setting such as playgroup or school.  The routines at home are more variable, and whatever they are leaving play time to do is usually not as exciting as circle or the playground.

So cleaning up at home can be more challenging than in a group setting.  But you

Materials for a sensory tub:

(other than the standard sand or water)

• Cornstarch and water
• Cooked spaghetti noodles
• Shaving cream
• Cotton balls
• Oats
• Rice
• Beans
• Paper to rip and/or shredded paper
• Soapy water
• Ice cubes
• Snow
• Ribbons
• Jell-O
• Uncooked pasta
• Dry cereal
• Tin foil
• Grass, leaves, flowers

Tools to add:

• Sponges—car, doll, or toy wash
• Turkey baster, medicine dropper
• Colander, sieve
• Buckets, shovels
• Measuring cups
• Funnel
• Hammer (for dry cereal or pasta)
• Empty bottles or

You hear parents and other adults telling kids all the time, "Share your toys!" But do kids always have to share? And when can they do it without help from an adult and/or throwing a tantrum? 

Well, it all depends. It depends on the  situation, on the toy or activity your child is being asked to share, and on your child's developmental stage. And you also get

Playgroup Songs:

Willoughby Wallaby

Willoughby wallaby Wellie,

An elephant sat on Ellie;

Willoughby wallaby Wary,

An elephant sat on Mary.

Banana-fana

Ellie, Ellie, bo bellie,

Banana fana fo fellie,

Me my mo mellie,

Ellie.

The Jumping Name Song:

There was a girl at playgroup today,

And Ellie was her name-o.

Jump, jump, Ellie, jump.

Jump, jump, Ellie, jump.

We're glad you're here today-o!

Galloop

Galloop went the little green frog one day,

Galloop went the