The preschool years lay the foundation for a child’s lifelong learning journey. These early stages are rich with curiosity, exploration and social-emotional development, making it essential for educators to use strategies that promote engagement, structure, creativity and responsive instruction.
As someone who has served as both an elementary principal and now as a district leader, I’ve seen firsthand how intentional strategies at the preschool level ripple outward, influencing not only kindergarten readiness but long-term academic and social growth.
In recent conversations with a preschool principal from the Chicago area, Erin Alexander, she emphasized just how impactful these early years are—not only for students but also for educators and administrators who help shape the learning environment.
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She shared, “The first five years of a child’s life are a critical period for brain development. Early childhood education helps stimulate brain growth, enhancing cognitive abilities, language skills, and problem-solving capabilities. Early childhood is a time when children begin to understand emotions and learn how to manage them in a healthy way.”
Preschool educators face the unique challenge of balancing structure with flexibility, fostering independence while providing support, and building academic readiness through play. Several key strategies have proven effective in helping educators meet these goals and create environments where young learners thrive.
1. Play-based learning as a core approach
One of the most effective strategies in early childhood education is the integration of play-based learning. Research consistently supports the value of purposeful play in developing cognitive, language and social skills.
Rather than relying on rigid, content-heavy instruction, educators can provide children with hands-on opportunities to explore concepts through activities such as block building, dramatic play, sensory bins and role-playing.
Alexander notes, “Play-based learning promotes cognitive development and fosters creativity and imagination. When children engage in play, they use their imagination to create characters and scenarios. This strengthens their ability to innovate and express themselves. Play also often involves communication—storytelling, singing, and peer conversations—which helps children build vocabulary and practice meaningful communication.”
2. Creating predictable routines and visual schedules
Young children thrive on routine. Establishing a consistent daily schedule helps students feel secure and reduces anxiety around transitions.
Visual schedules—using pictures or icons to represent each part of the day—give students a sense of control and predictability, even when they are still developing language skills. These tools also support smoother classroom management and build self-regulation skills.
3. Fostering language and communication skills
Language development is central to preschool success. Educators play a critical role in modeling vocabulary, expanding expressive language and encouraging communication.
Dialogic reading—asking open-ended questions and prompting students to talk about stories—is one proven method for strengthening comprehension and literacy readiness.
A language-rich environment includes labeled classroom items, descriptive narration of daily tasks, songs and frequent conversations with and among children.
4. Embedding social-emotional learning throughout the day
Social-emotional development is just as vital as academic growth in the early years. Teaching children how to identify emotions, express needs and resolve conflicts builds foundational life skills. SEL practices such as morning check-ins, calm-down corners and empathy modeling help children navigate their emotions in healthy ways.
Alexander highlighted the importance of creating a nurturing classroom environment: “When children feel seen and supported, they’re better able to manage frustration, disappointment, or conflict.”
Books, storytelling, and role-playing can also serve as powerful tools for helping children understand emotions, practice empathy and build peer relationships.
5. Differentiating instruction and activities
Every preschooler arrives with a unique set of experiences, strengths and needs. Differentiating instruction ensures that all children are supported appropriately.
Learning centers—offering a mix of literacy, math, sensory and art activities—encourage independence and allow teachers to offer targeted instruction in small groups.
By rotating among centers, educators can individualize support and scaffold learning based on observation and student response, ensuring every child remains engaged and challenged.
6. Partnering with families to extend learning
Families are a child’s first and most consistent teachers. Building strong partnerships with caregivers allows educators to extend learning beyond the classroom and align expectations across settings. Regular communication—whether through newsletters, classroom apps or shared photos—keeps families engaged in their child’s development.
Alexander emphasized that children benefit from consistency when families and educators work together. She stated, “Children thrive when routines, expectations and learning concepts carry over to the home environment. Consistency helps children feel secure and reinforces their understanding.”
7. Ongoing professional development for educators
To support young learners effectively, educators need continuous opportunities to reflect and grow. High-impact professional development focuses on child development, trauma-informed practices, inclusive strategies and language acquisition. Peer collaboration, coaching and time for reflective practice are essential.
It’s also critical to invest in educator well-being. Teaching preschool is both joyful and emotionally demanding. Providing time for planning, debriefing and professional learning communities helps educators stay energized and supported in their work.
Foundation for lifelong learning
Preschool education is about much more than early academics—it sets the stage for joyful, meaningful learning that lasts a lifetime. When educators implement strategies that emphasize play, routine, communication, social-emotional development and family partnerships, they create classrooms where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
Reflecting on my journey—from leading an elementary school to supporting district-wide implementation—I’ve seen the ripple effect that strong early childhood practices have on a school system. Investing in preschool learning is an investment not just in the youngest learners but in the long-term success of every grade that follows.
As Alexander so powerfully said, “Preschool is not just a place of preparation—it’s a place of possibility.”
