Preschool teachers typically do the following:

• Teach children basic skills such as color, shape, number, and letter recognition
• Work with children in groups or one on one, depending on the needs of children and the subject matter
• Plan and carry out a curriculum that targets different areas of child development, such as language, motor, and social skills
• Organize activities so children can learn about the world, explore interests, and develop skills
• Develop schedules and routines to ensure children have enough physical activity, rest, and playtime
• Watch for signs of emotional or developmental problems in children and bring them to the attention of the parents
• Keep records of the students' progress, routines, and interests, and inform parents about their child's development

Young children learn from playing, problem solving, questioning, and experimenting. Preschool teachers use play and other instructional techniques to teach children about the world. For example, they use storytelling and rhyming games to teach language and vocabulary. They may help improve children's social skills by having them work together to build a neighborhood in a sandbox or teach math by having children count when building with blocks.

Preschool teachers work with children from different ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds. Teachers include topics in their lessons to teach children to respect people of different backgrounds and cultures.