15 IEP Goals for Preschool & Early Childhood (With Examples)

Quick Answer

IEP goals for preschool typically target foundational skills across communication, fine motor, and social-emotional development — for example, using a 2-3 word phrase to request an item in 4 of 5 opportunities. Early childhood goals should be functional, play-based, and measured across natural routines, not seated academic tasks.

Early childhood special education (ECSE) goals look different from school-age IEPs — they're built around developmental milestones and measured during play and daily routines rather than academic tasks. These 15 example goals cover the areas most commonly targeted at the preschool level.

Communication

1.By [date], [student] will use a 2-3 word phrase to request a preferred item or activity in 4 of 5 observed opportunities.
2.By [date], [student] will follow a 1-step direction during a classroom routine in 4 of 5 observed opportunities.
3.By [date], [student] will point to or name 10 common objects with 80% accuracy across 4 of 5 trials.
4.By [date], [student] will answer simple 'what' and 'where' questions about a familiar picture book in 4 of 5 opportunities.

Fine Motor

1.By [date], [student] will use a pincer grasp to pick up small objects (e.g., puzzle pieces, beads) in 4 of 5 observed opportunities.
2.By [date], [student] will string 5 large beads independently within 3 minutes in 4 of 5 trials.
3.By [date], [student] will use scissors to make snips along the edge of paper in 4 of 5 observed opportunities.
4.By [date], [student] will imitate drawing a horizontal and vertical line in 4 of 5 trials.

Social-Emotional

1.By [date], [student] will engage in parallel play beside a peer for 5 minutes without adult prompting in 4 of 5 observed opportunities.
2.By [date], [student] will transition between 2 preschool activities with no more than 1 prompt in 4 of 5 observed transitions.
3.By [date], [student] will follow classroom routines (circle time, clean-up) with no more than 1 verbal prompt in 4 of 5 opportunities.
4.By [date], [student] will identify basic emotions (happy, sad, mad) in self or others with 80% accuracy in 4 of 5 trials.

Cognitive / Pre-Academic

1.By [date], [student] will sort objects by 1 attribute (color or shape) with 85% accuracy across 4 of 5 trials.
2.By [date], [student] will count objects 1-5 with 1:1 correspondence with 80% accuracy across 4 of 5 trials.
3.By [date], [student] will identify 10 uppercase letters by name with 80% accuracy across 4 of 5 trials.

How ECSE Goals Differ from School-Age IEPs

Early childhood special education goals are measured differently than school-age IEPs — through play-based observation and natural routines rather than seated academic tasks. A 3-year-old's progress on a communication goal might be tracked during snack time or free play, not a worksheet, and goals are typically reviewed more frequently given how quickly young children develop.

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