Knowledge of Families and Communities - Social and Emotional Development: Ages 3-5

Widely Held Expectations

• Child understands and respects similarities and differences among adults and children in their program, home, and community
  
  •   Begins to understand various family roles, jobs, and rules
• Child expresses some understanding of familiar locations in community such as where people live, and where stores, parks, and restaurants are located
• Child uses familiar words to identify family members and workers in their community

Learning in Action: Examples

The Child

• Reads/looks at books and writes/dictates stories about family, and/or dramatizes stories involving families etc.
• Participates in activities to help others in the group or community
• Sees self as a family member and as a boy or girl in the family
• Shares stories of family events during circle time
• Recognizes familiar places in their environment (stores, parks, restaurants, etc.)

The Adult

• Helps children describe and appreciate their own characteristics and those of others
• Invites leaders and workers in the community to come to the program
• Takes group on field trips to various places in the community
• Invites families to come and share their uniqueness (traditions, holidays, food, games, etc.)

The Environment Includes

• Opportunities to expose children to a wide variety of roles and career possibilities
• Opportunities to help children learn about their school and community, and includes their families