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Curriculum · Stage 1 of 7 · Ages 0–5

Life skills for toddlers and preschoolers

The first life skills are learned at home, long before school: sleeping safely, using the toilet, getting dressed, waiting for a turn, saying sorry, and knowing your own name, address and a grown-up's phone number. This stage has 14 units across eight of the nine areas. The outcomes are written for parents and carers to teach and watch for, and the few that need step-by-step teaching link to a lesson.

14
units
43
outcomes
3
lessons

What to be able to do by 6

By area

Body

Safe sleep for infants

  • Can sleep on its back, alone, on a flat, firm surface with nothing else in the crib (the caregiver sets this up)
  • Can follow the same short bedtime routine most nights
  • Can be put down drowsy and finish falling asleep without being fed
1.13 How to swaddle a newborn, and when to stop

Toilet training

  • Can say or sign that it needs to go
  • Can use a potty or toilet with help
  • Can wash and dry its hands afterwards

Mind

Early emotional regulation

  • Can be calmed by being held or stayed with
  • Can begin to use a word instead of hitting or biting
  • Can recover and rejoin whatever was going on

Patience and separation

  • Can wait for a turn
  • Can wait a few minutes for something wanted, with something else to do meanwhile
  • Can say goodbye at a door and let go of the grown-up
  • Can be comforted by another trusted adult until they come back

People

Early communication

  • Can be soothed by a familiar person
  • Can take turns: a sound, a pause, a sound back
  • Can name familiar people and point to ask for things
  • Can say no, which it will

Honesty and curiosity

  • Can tell a story from a lie
  • Can own up when asked directly
  • Can ask why and wait for the answer

Sharing and play

  • Can ask to join a game
  • Can share and take turns
  • Can lose a game without ending it for everyone

Safety

Calling for help

  • Can say its full name, address and a grown-up's phone number
  • Can call 911 and stay on the line
  • Can find a safe adult if lost, such as a store worker or a parent with children
5.1 Call 911 and give your location

Road safety

  • Can stop at the curb
  • Can hold a hand to cross
  • Can look both ways and listen before crossing

Information

Screens and ads

  • Can stop when the timer ends
  • Can tell a show from an ad

Kitchen

Helping in the kitchen

  • Can wash fruit and vegetables
  • Can stir, pour from a small jug and spread with a blunt knife
  • Can set a table
7.1 How to set a table

Home

Tidying up

  • Can put toys back where they live
  • Can put dirty clothes in the hamper
  • Can carry its own plate to the sink

Hands

Early self-feeding

  • Can get food from bowl to mouth with a spoon, mostly
  • Can drink from an open cup
  • Can pick up small things between finger and thumb, supervised

Getting dressed

  • Can put shoes on the correct feet
  • Can do up large buttons and a zipper
  • Can put on a coat without help

Take the 2-minute test