How Preschool Builds Confidence, Curiosity, & Life Skills Beyond The ABCs

If you’re ever trying to get to the bottom of something, enlist the help of a preschooler. After all, they’ve mastered the art of asking questions — mainly the one-worded (and sometimes dreaded) “Why?” — and their curiosity has no limits. In the right preschool environment, that endless curiosity isn’t just indulged, it’s celebrated and channeled into confidence, problem-solving, and a love of learning that stretches far beyond ABCs and 123s.

And according to Dr. Lauren Loquasto, senior vice president and chief academic officer at The Goddard School, those skills don’t just happen overnight. “Knowing how to manage emotions, communicate effectively, collaborate, and persevere during frustration are all critical life skills that need to be fostered,” Dr. Loquasto says.

That’s why it’s fundamentally important to provide your child with a preschool curriculum that allows them to discover these key character traits. Ahead, Dr. Loquasto dives deeper into how preschool helps instill these essential life skills in children.

They Design Their Curriculum With Your Child In Mind

It’s essential to look for a preschool that goes beyond the usual preset themes of farm animals, the five senses, or favorite foods. That’s where The Goddard School’s Wonder of Learning program comes in. “It’s an inquiry-based educational program, which means it is built from the questions children ask and their natural curiosity,” Dr. Loquasto says. The program enables children to explore a big question and the many questions that grow from it through authentic, hands-on experiences.

Dr. Loquasto stresses the importance of designing a curriculum that meets individual kids where they are from a skills and interest perspective, and personalizes it to challenge each child. “This ensures maximized academic learning, but also places equal emphasis on developing each child’s social-emotional skills, namely confidence, communication, problem-solving, and creativity.”

They Help Develop The So-Called “Soft Skills” That Really Matter

Preschool isn’t just where kids learn how to take turns playing with toys or sharing crayons. It’s where traits like resilience, collaboration, and independent thinking really begin. “These skills used to be referred to as ‘soft skills,’ which couldn’t be any further from the truth, as they’re the very skills that help your child build a strong foundation,” Dr. Loquasto explains. Take those everyday classroom moments for example: a block tower crashes down, and a child rebuilds it. A zipper won’t budge, but they keep tugging until it clicks. Each time they push through the frustration, they’re practicing a skill for bigger challenges ahead. And remember: development isn’t linear. Skills will mature at different times and in various ways.

How To Build Confidence & Curiosity At Home

To raise a confident, curious child, it helps to recognize what type of personality your child has. Do they become immediate best friends with other kids on the playground? Or do they prefer to hang back and observe from the bench? Depending on their unique personality and temperament, it will require a different kind of nurturing.

For example, if your child is introverted, Dr. Loquasto suggests finding ways to encourage them to engage with their peers in small groups until they are more comfortable. “Not all children are outgoing and extroverted, and that is OK. No child should be made to be something he or she is not,” she says. And as always, if you are concerned about your child’s development, it’s best to consult with your pediatrician. “Remember that child development is optimized when their ‘village’ is working together, so partner with your child’s teacher, pediatricians, and others to support your child,” Dr. Loquasto recommends.

As kids grow, you can also encourage communication by asking open-ended questions, like “What was your favorite part of today?” or “How did you solve that problem?” Giving them time to think and respond not only builds patience but also shows them their thoughts are valued, which boosts confidence in their ability to express themselves.

At the end of the day, preschool is about more than kindergarten prep. It’s about giving children the tools they’ll carry into every part of life. By nurturing curiosity, building confidence, and fostering resilience, preschool lays a foundation for children to grow into adaptable, thoughtful, and engaged learners. And while teachers play a big role, parents and caregivers are also partners in the process. Every “Why?” your child asks is an opportunity to explore the world together and a reminder that those small everyday moments are shaping the confident, curious person they’re becoming.