Why Friendship Skills Matter More Than ABCs at Age 3
When most parents think about preschool and childcare, the first question is usually: "Will my child learn their letters and numbers?" It's a completely natural thing to wonder. But at Spring Kids Early Learning Centre , we often gently shift that conversation — because at age 3, your child's ability to make a friend, share a toy, and say "I'm sorry" may matter far more for their future than knowing the alphabet. Here's why — and what we do every single day to nurture it. What the Research Says About Social Skills at Age 3 Early childhood development experts have long recognised that social-emotional learning (SEL) forms the foundation for everything else — including academic success. Research consistently shows that children with strong social-emotional competence demonstrate greater academic achievement, fewer behavioural challenges, and more positive peer relationships throughout their school years. In fact, a key study found that social em...