How to Get Your Child Ready for Preschool
New year, new experiences! Is your child heading to preschool this year?
It’s a big step, both for your child and your family as a whole. It can be an exciting and nerve-wracking time. Is your child ready? What should you be doing to help your kiddo prepare? What milestones should they be meeting?
What Does Preschool Readiness Mean?
It's not always easy to tell when a child is ready for school. Just like kids learn to walk and talk at their own pace, they also develop the social and emotional skills they need for school at different times. So, while some kids might be ready by 4 or 5, others might need a little more time, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. It’s important to think about the important development milestones that will help your child’s transition to formal education.
When is Your Child Ready for Preschool?
Preschool readiness may be different from child to child. While most children start around 3-4 years old, it's essential to consider your child’s development.
Remember, every child develops at their own pace. If you have any concerns about your child's readiness for preschool, talk to their pediatrician or the preschool teacher. Some schools can even help you find a child psychologist to help assess your child’s development.
To help determine if your child is ready for preschool, consider the following:
- Sensory development: Does your child explore their world through touch, sight, and sound? Can they draw, color, use scissors, and write their name?
- Early language and literacy skills: Can your child write their name and communicate with you well? Can they identify sound-letter associations and rhymes?
- Early math skills: Can your child recognize numbers and count?
- Social skills: How does your child interact with other children and make friends? Can they share, take turns, and resolve conflicts peacefully?
- Independence: Is your child able to use the bathroom independently, dress themselves, and eat without assistance?
- Separation anxiety: How does your child react to being separated from you or another caregiver?
Tips for Getting Your Child Ready for Preschool
That is a lot of information. Granted, there are many ways to support your child’s development in preparation for preschool. But what other ways can you help your child prepare for this big transition?
Don’t worry! We got you. Here are some tips to help get your child ready for their new adventure.
Visit the Preschool Ahead of Time
Introducing your child to their new preschool will help them feel excited, alleviate nerves (yours too!), and create a sense of familiarity. Ask your local preschool about preview days and get them on the calendar early.
Familiarize your child with their new environment by visiting the preschool beforehand. This will help reduce anxiety and make the transition smoother. During your visit, take the opportunity to explore the classrooms, meet the teachers, and ask about daily routines. You’ll learn about the preschool's culture and approach to early childhood education. Additionally, it allows your child to become acquainted with the space and maybe even meet some of their future classmates, making the transition to preschool smoother and more enjoyable for them, you, and their teacher.
Make New Friends
Social skills are an important part of child development and growing up. Arrange playdates with other children who will be attending the same preschool. This will give your child a chance to form friendships and feel more comfortable on their first day. They’ll also practice sharing, communicating, cooperation, patience, and kindness.
Turn Learning New Skills into Fun Games
Make learning fun by turning everyday tasks into games. For example, your child can practice buttoning, zipping, and other self-help skills while playing dress-up or getting ready for the day.
Play "School" at Home
Simulate a school environment at home. Use flashcards, coloring books, and other educational toys to reinforce learning concepts. Talk with your child about the rules they’ll encounter at preschool, and help them practice asking the teacher for help, raising their hand, and respecting the toys and materials they’ll encounter.
Establish a Routine
Your kiddo’s preschool will operate on a schedule. For some children, it’s easy to transition to a regular schedule. It’s exciting, is predictable, and makes them feel secure! For others, it’s tough to go from the flexibility of home life to what might feel rigid. Start a regular daily routine several months before preschool begins to help your child adjust.
Ready for School, Ready for Life
To help you further prepare your child for preschool, we've created a free preschool readiness kit to help guide you through essential skills and milestones to ensure your child is well-prepared for this wonderful new chapter of their life.
Looking for more information to help you get preschoolers ready for kindergarten? Check out our blog post on preparing your kid for kindergarten over the summer.