Family Tip Sheets

Approaches to Learning (Birth to Age 6)

Definition How Can I Help My Child Learn….

Approaches to learning is about how children learn in
At Home and in the Community!
different ways and focuses on the development of
positive attitudes towards learning:
Infant
• Curiosity, engagement and persistence;
• Take your baby on walks and let her sit on the
• Creativity and imagination; grass. Notice what she is interested in;
• Diversity in learning. • Put your child on the floor with interesting toys to
encourage him to explore.
Rationale Toddler
• Children’s learning is connected to their feelings • Although it takes more time, allow your toddler to
of success and willingness to keep trying when “do it himself” before offering help;
something is hard; • Give your toddler real and pretend toys that are
• How children learn is influenced by part of everyday life such as pots and pans,
temperament and the child’s personality and spoons and bowls.
preferences; Preschooler
• Children learn best through hands on • Talk to your child about how we are all different.
experiences and nurturing interactions that Read books about different cultures, places and
promote the joy of learning. homes;
• Share recipes for favorite foods and try different
kinds of foods with your child.

Remember – Your Child Learns and Grows Across

all Five Domains!

When you support your child in trying an activity that is

hard, for example cutting with scissors (persistence) you
are teaching your child to handle frustration (social
competence) and promoting fine motor skills (motor
development).
What should I do if I have a concern about my child’s
development?
• Talk to your early learning program provider;
• Talk to your doctor. If you and your doctor are still
concerned;
• Call Wisconsin First Step 1-800-642-7837 (24 hour
service, a parent specialist is available M-F, between
8AM and 4PM);
• Services for children with disabilities are provided
through Birth to 3 or your school district Special
Education department.
 Family Tip Sheets
Approaches to Learning (Birth to Age 6)

What Does My Child Know? What Can My Child Do? Preschooler

• Does puzzles with three or four pieces;
The Milestone Moments published by the Center for • Turns book pages one at a time;
Disease Control provides detailed information of what to • Builds towers of more than six blocks;
expect at each milestone in your child’s development. • Screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door
The information below includes a sampling of the skills handle;
included in the Milestone Moments. • Uses scissors;
• Starts to copy some capital letters;
Infant • Plays board or card games;
• Pays attention to faces; • Tells you what he thinks is going to happen next
• Begins to act bored (cries, fussy) if activity in a book;
doesn’t change; • Counts ten or more things;
• Follows moving things with eyes from side to • Can draw a person with at least six body parts.
side;
• Watches faces closely; Additional Resource
• Looks around at things nearby;
Temperament – Center for Early Childhood Mental
• Shows curiosity about things and tries to get
Health Consultation Temperament Tool
things that are out of reach;
• Watches the path of something as it falls;
The Infant Toddler Temperament Tool includes a short
• Looks for things he sees you hide;
online survey that allows parents and caregivers of
• Explores things in different ways, like shaking,
infants and toddlers to recognize and explore their own
banging, throwing;
temperament traits and those of a child for which they
• Finds hidden things easily. provide care. The IT3 generates results which support
Toddler parents and caregivers in understanding how adult and
• Points to get the attention of others; child similarities and differences in temperament traits
• Shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by may affect “goodness of fit.” Along with these results, the
pretending to feed; IT3 generates simple best practice tips adults can use to
• Finds things even when hidden under two or foster the unique temperament of each child within their
three covers; care.
• Builds towers of four or more blocks;
• Follows two-step instructions such as “Pick up [Link]
your shoes and put them in the closet”;
• Names items in a picture book such as a cat,
bird, or dog.

Sources: Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards, Third Edition, Developmental Continuum, February 2011
Center for Disease Control and Prevention Developmental Milestones [Link]