By the Babbez team · US Guide · Federal framework read October 7, 2026
Preschool kids learn in 7 domains under the federal Head Start framework (the ELOF, 2015): approaches to learning, social and emotional development, language and communication, literacy, math, science, and perceptual, motor and physical development.
The framework spans birth to five; its preschool section covers children from 3 to 5 years of age and splits those domains into 24 sub-domains and 59 goal codes. By our count, 29 of the 59 goal codes are early academics (language, literacy, math and science); the other 30 cover how children learn, feel and get along, plus motor skills, health, safety and nutrition.
Key takeaways
- The ELOF’s 7 preschool domains: approaches to learning; social and emotional development; language and communication; literacy; mathematics development; scientific reasoning; and perceptual, motor, and physical development.
- The 59 goal codes hold 58 distinct goals: one goal, on managing emotions, is listed in two domains (P-ATL 1 and P-SE 8).
- Approaches to learning has the most goal codes (13); among the domains we group as early academics, math has the most (10).
- Not a checklist: the framework says it is “not to be used as a curriculum, assessment, or checklist”.
This page maps an official document, not children. Ask your child’s program about its curriculum, and your child’s doctor about development.
What are the main learning areas in preschool?
The federal framework names 7 domains for preschoolers. At this age it splits two of its infant and toddler domains: “the single domain of Language and Communication for infants and toddlers becomes two domains–Language and Communication and Literacy–for preschoolers”, and Cognition becomes Mathematics Development and Scientific Reasoning.
| Domain | Sub-domains | Goal codes | One goal, in the ELOF’s words |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approaches to Learning | 4 | 13 (P-ATL 1 to P-ATL 13) | “Child persists in tasks.” (P-ATL 7) |
| Social and Emotional Development | 4 | 11 (P-SE 1 to P-SE 11) | “Child engages in cooperative play with other children.” (P-SE 4) |
| Language and Communication | 3 | 7 (P-LC 1 to P-LC 7) | “Child expresses self in increasingly long, detailed, and sophisticated ways.” (P-LC 5) |
| Literacy | 4 | 6 (P-LIT 1 to P-LIT 6) | “Child identifies letters of the alphabet and produces correct sounds associated with letters.” (P-LIT 3) |
| Mathematics Development | 4 | 10 (P-MATH 1 to P-MATH 10) | “Child knows number names and the count sequence.” (P-MATH 1) |
| Scientific Reasoning | 2 | 6 (P-SCI 1 to P-SCI 6) | “Child asks a question, gathers information, and makes predictions.” (P-SCI 4) |
| Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development | 3 | 6 (P-PMP 1 to P-PMP 6) | “Child demonstrates increasing control, strength, and coordination of small muscles.” (P-PMP 3) |
How many preschool goals are academic?
By our count of the federal framework, 29 of the 59 goal codes are early academics (language and communication 7, literacy 6, mathematics 10, science 6). Approaches to learning (13) and social and emotional development (11) add 24, and perceptual, motor and physical development, which covers health, safety and nutrition too, has 6. We counted goal codes, not teaching time.
So the framework actually gives more goal codes to how children learn and get along (24) than to literacy and math combined (16). Literacy and math goals are on the list, but they are not most of it.
The framework links play to these goals. It says that aligning “instruction and opportunities for play, exploration, discovery, and problem-solving” with its outcomes “will promote successful learning in all children”. For play ideas at home, see our indoor activities for toddlers.
| Domain | Sub-domain | Goal codes | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approaches to Learning | Emotional and Behavioral Self-Regulation | P-ATL 1 to P-ATL 4 | 4 |
| Approaches to Learning | Cognitive Self-Regulation (Executive Functioning) | P-ATL 5 to P-ATL 9 | 5 |
| Approaches to Learning | Initiative and Curiosity | P-ATL 10 to P-ATL 11 | 2 |
| Approaches to Learning | Creativity | P-ATL 12 to P-ATL 13 | 2 |
| Social and Emotional Development | Relationships with Adults | P-SE 1 to P-SE 2 | 2 |
| Social and Emotional Development | Relationships with Other Children | P-SE 3 to P-SE 5 | 3 |
| Social and Emotional Development | Emotional Functioning | P-SE 6 to P-SE 8 | 3 |
| Social and Emotional Development | Sense of Identity and Belonging | P-SE 9 to P-SE 11 | 3 |
| Language and Communication | Attending and Understanding | P-LC 1 to P-LC 2 | 2 |
| Language and Communication | Communicating and Speaking | P-LC 3 to P-LC 5 | 3 |
| Language and Communication | Vocabulary | P-LC 6 to P-LC 7 | 2 |
| Literacy | Phonological Awareness | P-LIT 1 | 1 |
| Literacy | Print and Alphabet Knowledge | P-LIT 2 to P-LIT 3 | 2 |
| Literacy | Comprehension and Text Structure | P-LIT 4 to P-LIT 5 | 2 |
| Literacy | Writing | P-LIT 6 | 1 |
| Mathematics Development | Counting and Cardinality | P-MATH 1 to P-MATH 5 | 5 |
| Mathematics Development | Operations and Algebraic Thinking | P-MATH 6 to P-MATH 7 | 2 |
| Mathematics Development | Measurement | P-MATH 8 | 1 |
| Mathematics Development | Geometry and Spatial Sense | P-MATH 9 to P-MATH 10 | 2 |
| Scientific Reasoning | Scientific Inquiry | P-SCI 1 to P-SCI 3 | 3 |
| Scientific Reasoning | Reasoning and Problem-Solving | P-SCI 4 to P-SCI 6 | 3 |
| Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development | Gross Motor | P-PMP 1 to P-PMP 2 | 2 |
| Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development | Fine Motor | P-PMP 3 | 1 |
| Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development | Health, Safety, and Nutrition | P-PMP 4 to P-PMP 6 | 3 |
What does approaches to learning mean?
It isn’t a school subject. According to the ELOF, “Approaches to learning focuses on how children learn. It refers to the skills and behaviors that children use to engage in learning.” Its four sub-domains are emotional and behavioral self-regulation, cognitive self-regulation (executive functioning), initiative and curiosity, and creativity. One of its 13 goal codes: “Child maintains focus and sustains attention with minimal adult support.” (P-ATL 6)
What do 3 and 4 year olds learn in preschool?
The same 7 domains. The ELOF describes preschoolers’ progress in two age groups, 36 to 48 months (3 to 4 years) and 48 to 60 months (4 to 5 years), and names what children “at 60 months of age should know and be able to do as they leave Head Start”.
It also says: “Given children’s individual differences, some children may demonstrate these indicators before the designated age period and some may demonstrate them later.”
What is not in the federal framework?
The ELOF says it “does not include every area of child development and learning. For example, the Framework does not include a creative arts domain, but art experiences are an important part of early childhood curriculum.”
Creativity is there, as a sub-domain of approaches to learning (P-ATL 12 to P-ATL 13).
It also notes that its goals “are sometimes referred to as standards in state early learning guidelines”. Ask your program which standards and curriculum its classes follow.
Is there one national preschool curriculum?
The federal framework is not one: it says it is not to be used as a curriculum. It lists what Head Start programs must use it for, including to “select curricula” and “select assessments”. Per the eCFR (up to date as of 10/05/2026), federal rules require Head Start center-based and family child care programs to use curricula that are “aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five and, as appropriate, state early learning and development standards” (45 CFR 1302.32).
Starting soon? See our guide to making the first days of preschool easier and our preschooler clothes guide. NAEYC also has a family guide.
Should parents use these goals as a checklist?
No. The framework isn’t a checklist, in its own words: “The Framework is not to be used as a curriculum, assessment, or checklist. It is never to be used to conclude a child has failed in any way or that a child is not ready to transition into Head Start or kindergarten.”
According to the CDC’s Milestones by 4 Years page (reviewed May 16, 2026): “If your child is not meeting one or more milestones, has lost skills he or she once had, or you have other concerns, act early. Talk with your child’s doctor, share your concerns, and ask about developmental screening.” This is general information, not medical or educational advice; see our medical disclaimer.
Source: CDC. This CDC material is otherwise available on the CDC website for no charge. Use of CDC material on this page, including links to CDC web pages, does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government of Babbez or its products or services.
How was this map built?
- What: the preschool goal tables of the federal Head Start ELOF (2015, GovInfo copy), all 7 domains. It replaces the 2010 Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework.
- Read: October 7, 2026 (UTC), in two downloads that were byte-identical; goal text from our own text extraction, checked again against the PDF on October 13, 2026.
- Compiled by: the Babbez data team. Rule: we counted goal codes and the sub-domain headings they sit under. One goal is listed twice (P-ATL 1 and P-SE 8), so 59 goal codes hold 58 distinct goals. “Early academics” is our grouping of language and communication, literacy, math and science.
- Limits: we counted goals, not the developmental progressions or indicators under them. The ELOF is written for Head Start programs; ask any other program what it follows.
- Data: 90 rows: 7 domain rows, 24 sub-domain rows and 59 goal rows, with the goal wording as printed.
Download the data (CSV). License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) for our compilation and counts. Free to use with credit to Babbez and a link to this page. The goal wording is the Office of Head Start’s. More datasets: our data page.
Cite as: Babbez data team (October 2026). The Babbez Preschool Goal Map. Head Start ELOF read October 7, 2026. https://babbez.com/blogs/baby-clothes/what-do-kids-learn-in-preschool
Frequently asked questions
What should a child learn in preschool
Broad areas. The federal Head Start framework names 7 preschool domains, from approaches to learning to perceptual, motor and physical development, and says it is “not to be used as a curriculum, assessment, or checklist”.
What do 3 year olds learn in preschool
The same broad areas. The federal framework describes preschool progress in two age groups, 36 to 48 months (3 to 4 years) and 48 to 60 months (4 to 5 years). Ask the program which goals its class works on.
Is there a national preschool curriculum
The federal Head Start framework is not one: it says it is not to be used as a curriculum. Federal rules require Head Start center-based and family child care programs to use curricula aligned with it and, as appropriate, with state early learning and development standards.
What are early learning standards
The federal Head Start framework calls them goals: “broad statements of expectations for children’s learning and development”. It says these “are sometimes referred to as standards in state early learning guidelines”.
Do preschoolers learn art
The federal framework has no creative arts domain, but it says “art experiences are an important part of early childhood curriculum”. Creativity is a sub-domain of its approaches to learning domain.
Sources: Office of Head Start: ELOF (2015, GovInfo copy; record). eCFR: 45 CFR 1302.32. CDC: Milestones by 4 Years. All read October 7, 2026. How we work: editorial standards. General information, not legal, educational or medical advice; see our content disclaimer and medical disclaimer.