I

Approaches to Learning

A

Curiosity and Interest

Child approaches the world with curiosity and develops knowledge about specific topics.

3-year-olds – See this age across all domains Preschool

What educators might observe

• Often asks “why?”
• Makes up stories about objects around them (e.g., observes fish tank and tells a story about the fish’s family)
• Notices the interests of their peers (e.g., observes their play and then imitates it)
• Investigates the details of caregiving (e.g., asks to help cook)
• Compares experiences in one setting and another (e.g., after reading a book about pets, the child says, “I have a dog too.”)

B

Initiative

Child pursues their own goals.

3-year-olds – See this age across all domains Preschool

What educators might observe

• Engages in solitary play with a preferred toy
• Asks educator to read them their favorite book
• Watches what another child is doing and then begins to do it alongside them
• Chases another child and then turns so that they may have a turn being chased

C

Persistence and Attentiveness

Child focuses on tasks and perseveres in accomplishing them.

3-year-olds – See this age across all domains Preschool

What educators might observe

• Focuses on the character and plot when engaged in pretend play (e.g., pretends to be the mother and stays in this role as the doll babies are fed and put to bed)
• Listens to a short story from start to finish with a small group of children
• Tries several times to put on their own shoes before asking for help
• Chooses the same puzzle every day until they can do it with ease

D

Creativity and Inventiveness

Child uses their imagination to create and invent.

3-year-olds – See this age across all domains Preschool

What educators might observe

• Asks adult for assistance with their creations (e.g., child asks educator to make a tent by putting a sheet over a table)
• Embodies a pretend play character day after day
• Experiments with materials (e.g., dips paint into water and sees what color the water turns)
• Invents words in play (e.g., says the specks of dirt in the sunlight are “bittle”)
• Sings made up songs to themselves
• May have an imaginary friend