7 Preschool Teacher Skills
Written by:
Wilson College
• Sep 18, 2025
Research shows the importance of early childhood education. A 2023 assessment of scientific evidence in the Annual Review of Public Health found that children who attend preschool have improved academic outcomes through college and gain long-term health benefits.
However, the benefits of preschool depend on the quality of the program the children attend. High-quality programs require prepared teachers who focus on the development of the whole child. Strengthening critical preschool teaching skills benefits both preschool teachers and their students.
Preschool Teacher Responsibilities
Preschool teachers prepare young children for elementary school. In addition to creating a safe environment, preschool teachers encourage the development of children’s cognitive, social, physical, and emotional skills. This focus on the whole child helps preschoolers strengthen critical life skills.
The responsibilities of a preschool teacher include:
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Creating a positive, safe learning environment
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Planning and teaching lessons that align with preschoolers’ developmental milestones
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Communicating with children’s families and providing them with resources
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Tracking each child’s progress and development
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Helping children strengthen the basic skills that are required for kindergarten
Educators draw on their knowledge of child development, learning strategies, and behavioral management techniques to teach preschool.
7 Key Skills for Preschool Teachers
The most important preschool teacher skills include patience, creativity, and physical stamina. In addition to these qualities, preschool teachers benefit from an understanding of child development and age-appropriate lesson planning. An early childhood education program can help individuals hone these key preschool teacher skills.
Following are seven areas where preschool teachers need expertise and competency.
1. Supporting Child Development
Preschool teachers help young children develop their physical, language, and cognitive skills. Understanding early childhood development, including developmental milestones, allows preschool teachers to nurture learning in children and identify any potential developmental delays they may experience.
How do preschool teachers support child development? Language development activities can include prompting children with questions, introducing new words, and labeling classroom materials. Teachers can also help children develop basic math skills by encouraging them to count and creating opportunities for them to measure, sort, and compare objects.
2. Developing Preschool Lessons
Age-appropriate lessons encourage children to explore and gain knowledge. Projects and activities that engage preschoolers make learning fun. Because preschool is intended to prepare children for elementary school, lessons should align with the skills needed to start kindergarten.
Lesson planning provides a framework for preschool teachers that focuses on skill development. However, teachers often need to adapt their lessons based on the interests and needs of the children in their class.
3. Creating a Positive Learning Environment
Preschool introduces children to a classroom environment, and preschool teachers play a central role in establishing a positive learning environment for children. Establishing daily routines, managing children’s behavior, and creating a welcoming classroom contribute to a positive learning environment.
In positive environments, preschoolers can develop their social and emotional skills. A safe learning environment also helps them strengthen important qualities such as resilience, the capacity to resolve conflicts, and self-esteem.
4. Promoting Play-Based Learning
Play-based learning is an engaging and effective way to teach preschoolers. Promoting play-based learning requires an understanding of children’s developmental milestones and of lesson planning. In addition, preschool teachers can use project-based learning approaches to engage preschoolers.
The best preschool teachers encourage children to play and explore. Preschool teachers who are creative thinkers can find ways to make learning fun and modify projects to meet the diverse needs of the children they are teaching.
5. Modeling Good Communication
Children develop their language, social, and emotional skills during preschool. These core abilities play an important role in communication. Preschool teachers can model clear communication by listening to children, asking questions, and explaining their expectations.
Strong communication skills also help teachers strengthen their partnerships with children’s families. Preschool teachers draw on their communication skills to provide regular updates to parents and caregivers.
6. Organizing the Classroom
Preschool teachers need effective organizational and time management skills to be able to carry out their responsibilities. When planning lessons or projects, they need to consider the necessary supplies, potential challenges, and objectives for each one.
Teachers also need to be skilled at maintaining records on children’s daily activities and developmental progress. Organized teachers can keep learners on schedule and establish routines as well.
7. Incorporating Technology
Preschool teachers can bring technology into the classroom in a safe, engaging way. Listening to audiobooks, creating art on a tablet, or watching educational videos can support children’s learning in an age-appropriate way.
Technology also provides opportunities to connect with families. Preschool teachers may incorporate photographs or videos into their daily reports or assessments to share children’s growth with their parents.
Preschool Teacher Salary and Job Growth
Preschool teachers have a median annual salary of $37,120, with the top 10% earning over $60,000 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Individual teachers’ earning potential varies depending on their degree level, location, and experience. For example, those with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Early Childhood Education have a median annual salary of around $49,000, according to Payscale.
Research continues to show that early childhood education plays a critical role in the intellectual and social development of young children. As a result, preschool teachers benefit from a positive job outlook.
In 2023, more than 528,000 preschool teachers worked with children across the country, according to the BLS. Over the decade from 2023 to 2033, the number of preschool teacher jobs is projected to grow 4%. Around 61,400 preschool teaching job openings are expected to be available each year during that period.
Develop Your Preschool Teacher Skills at Wilson College Online
Do you want to become a preschool teacher or enhance your current teaching skills? Wilson College Online offers a B.A. in Early Childhood Education program. The flexible program emphasizes instructional strategies, lesson planning, and classroom management. In addition to online courses, enrollees complete a student teaching experience to develop their classroom teaching skills.
An early childhood education bachelor’s degree program can prepare you for a fulfilling career as a preschool teacher. Contact Wilson College Online to learn more about the early childhood education program.
Recommended Readings
5 Outdoor Learning Activities for Early Childhood Educators
Tips for Teaching Diversity in the Classroom
Sources:
Annual Review of Public Health, “Early Childhood Education: Health, Equity, and Economics”
Brightwheel, “Essential Preschool Teacher Skills for Nurturing Young Minds”
NEA Today, “Quality Preschool Is More Than ABCs”
Payscale, Bachelor of Arts (BA), Early Childhood Education Degree
