At Parkland Children’s Academy we know that getting ready for preschool is a super exciting time for both you and your child. In order to help make the jump from home to preschool easier we have gathered up a list of things that you can work on to help your child become preschool ready.
Development and independence:
The level of your child’s development will play a big role in determining his or her eligibility for Preschool. Ideally your child should be potty trained, capable of washing hands, eating unassisted, and sleeping alone. While at home allow your child to engage unassisted in these basic activities as often as possible. Solo play is also important, as many preschool activities require your child to focus on an individual task, such as art and craft projects and puzzle building. A good way of encouraging this type of development is by gradually building up the duration of solo play for your child at home. For example while you wash the dishes allow your child to spend time modelling clay. The point of the exercise is to promote a sense of independence in your child. Children who are accustomed to spending time away from their parents adapt easier to the preschool environment. Don’t worry if your child suffers some degree of separation anxiety, you can help solve this by allowing them to spend more time in the company of trusted friends and family and away from you.
Social:
The wonderful part of preschool is the safe social environment. Interacting with their peers is a crucial part of your child’s development. Activities such as circle-time, sing-along and free-play encourage the social development of your child as all the children in a class participate in these activities together. Part of this social development is to teach your child when it is appropriate to be active and talk or when to sit and listen to others. A great way of beginning your child’s social development is to introduce them to social activities with kids their own age such as a story time at your local library, enrolling them in a social club and interaction with the kids at your local park.
Physical:
A large part of the preschool environment is physical activity. From field trips to playground activities your child will need a good degree of stamina to happily make it through an exciting day at preschool. Giving your child the amount of stamina he or she needs to handle their day at preschool is as simple as making sure they get the correct amount of sleep at night. While you may feel getting your child to bed on time is easier said than done, it is possible with a little bit of patience and devotion to a regular schedule or routine. Even the most free spirited child needs routine as it helps them to standardize their days and allows them to feel more in control and thus more comfortable with their lives. A good place to start with routine is by setting and sticking to a bedtime schedule such as bath, dinner, story time, sleep.