Early childhood education forms the genesis of learning experiences for most children. It is the time when they first interact with a formal learning experience, including teachers and other students. It is, therefore, important for children to have clear and detailed lesson plans that will set expectations for them and for you as a parent/guardian. 

Clear lesson plans will provide a roadmap that your child will navigate as they embark on their journey towards developing critical skills. After the teachers and instructors in your preschool have designed lesson plans, it is important for you to carefully review them so you can know what role you need to play to support your child and their teachers.

An effective lesson plan for pre-schoolers should have the following components.

Lesson plans should be in writing

Any lesson plan used in schools should be set out in writing so that children, teachers and parents can review them on a regular basis. Teachers will typically map out the lesson plan for an entire term or year and share them with the children and their parents.

With a written lesson plan, you can establish the goals of that particular curriculum and determine what you need to do to help your child grow.

The roles of teachers and students should be clearly defined

A lesson plan should be more than just an outline of what your child will learn and when. It should also provide insights into how your child will get there. This means that the role of the teacher, the child and the parent should be clearly defined.

For example, if a lesson is addressing basic counting skills, the teacher may be responsible for providing the core foundations of the lesson. The child may then be responsible for practicing on a regular basis in order to learn their numbers well, and the parent should provide emotional support and the appropriate resources that the child needs to succeed.

Specific subject areas should be addressed

A lesson plan should also cover all the core skills that your child needs to develop as they start off school. For example, lesson plans should be grounded in developing language skills, social skills and basic math and science skills.

A comfortable learning environment is key

Even the most effective lesson plan is essentially useless if the child doesn't have a conducive learning environment.

It is important for the school to take active steps towards ensuring that your child is safe and in a positive and productive environment while in school. You also play an active role in this area by ensuring that children are comfortable and productive while at home.