Is Your Child Ready For Preschool
Parents know that children do not always follow the experts when it comes to physical and intellectual development. As the closest observers of their individual child’s temperament and abilities, parents are the best judges on whether a child is ready for an academic preschool program.
An academic preschool program differs from a daycare program in that it focuses on early learning skills, pre-reading readiness and linguistic development. While there is time for free play, preschool is a learning rather than care giving environment. In past times, preschool programs were designed for children who stayed home with a parent. Children attended preschool two or three mornings a week, spending the rest of the time at home. Today, because so many parents work, preschools have been restructured to full-day programs.
However, many children in the two to three year old age group may not be emotionally mature enough for a full-day academic experience. Younger children frequently get tired and upset after too much stimulation and many still need an afternoon nap. In this case, parents should seek a program that offers academic experiences in the morning and play time, naptime and other, less structured, activities for the rest of the day.
At three, the age most children begin preschool, children have developed the ability to speak in short sentences. At this age, adults can understand about three quarters of the words children say. A functional level of verbal ability can help a child more easily navigate preschool as he or she can ask for help, to use the toilet, or whatever else they may need.
Most schools require that children attending preschool be toilet trained. The consistent ability to use the bathroom during the day is an important part of preschool readiness. While teachers are accepting of accidents, they are teachers and not daycare providers and can’t be expected to change diapers. Additionally, children should know how to pull down and pull up their undergarments and to wash and dry their own hands.
Children should also have mastered basic life skills before beginning preschool. Snacks are definitely served at preschool and often lunch is served as well. Your child should be able to manage finger foods and use a regular cup without a spout in order to manage preschool meals. Also, they should be able to put on their own shoes and coat although teachers at this level fully expect to help with buttons and zippers.
How did you know your child was ready for preschool?
I never went to preschool, and honestly didn’t/don’t believe in it, but am coming around to the idea. I always believed in spending time at home with the child and teaching him/her and then having lots of play dates for social interaction, as well as activities, such as library group. It worked well for my parents on me, and it is working fantastic with my children. They are both incredibly smart and very outgoing. But my son, who is 2.5 years old, has been asking for about 4 months to go to school. He is fascinated by the idea and wants nothing more than to go in the fall when he will be a few months over 3 years old. I am open to the idea and researching some in the area, but how did you know your child was READY to go? My son is so smart (too young to tell, but it is thought that he may have a genius IQ, as strangers think he is about 5-6 years old and just small for his age – I am a tiny person, and he is very tall for his age, wearing size 5 clothes), but he is also so active! He will listen and follow instructions to a point, but he is so curious and so energetic that he doesn’t sit still long. I am afraid if I put him in school before he outgrows this a little bit that he will get mislabeled with ADHD or something.
Sorry so long, but just how did you know your child was ready, as I know some kids go at 3, where others go at 4 and some never go before kindergarten at 5.
My son plays with lots of kids his age, and plays very well with them. He has an 18 month old sister, so I have taught him the concept of sharing and taking turns and does great with it. His 3rd birthday is in April and I wouldn't be enrolling him until August/September, so he would be almost 3.5 by then
I meant "and HE does great with it" . left out the word "he" when talking about the sharing.
A 2.5 yr old has a very short attention span and they same goes for 3 yr olds it increases with age and preschool teachers know this.
I believe in preschool not just for the academic aspect.. because homeschooling could be as good, but if he will enter public school at Kindergarten.. he needs to be familiar with a school environment, where mommy is not the teacher, where he needs to raise his hand to talk, where he needs to take turns, and where there are other children different than him. It makes the whole difference when a child has been in preschool before kindergarten, it makes the adjustment for “big school” a lot easier.
How to know when they’re ready.. well I guess if your son has been asking you for a long while to go to school he is definetly ready and you should enrol him. It’ll be benefitial for him to gain some more independence.
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Mom of Isabella 6, Matthew 4 and Gabriella 21 mos
Well, to tell you the truth if hes 2.5 years old hes not ready to go to school. Take him to a daycare to try it out. He will most likley meet new friends and be more "Prepared" for school when it IS time. But I started pre-k when I was 4. I also went to a private school pre-k.
Ok back to your question, you know he is ready when YOU are not nervous to send him there. Give yourself time to adapt to the idea that hes going to have to start sometime. Like I said take him to a daycare maybe half a day, and have him used to being around other kids his age.
Also he is very young. I know someones kid who started when he was 3 and thought the teacher was HIS mom. Spend more times with him in his younger years.
Hope to be of help.
Tony.
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It is good to send children to pre school. They will learn to socialize. They will learn new world apart from family. Most of all they will enjoy going to school. But one disadvantage is the learning speed slows down as you get very little time after he/she comes home(as you already taught them everything they usually teach in kindergarten).
If we consider age a child will be ready to school by 3. Once you make sure that he is good at expressing his feelings like his discomfort, his needs then you can send him to school without any doubt.
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I have 4 boys and a baby girl.
1 boy started in kindergarten at 5 yrs old.
2 boys started in pre-school at 4 yrs old.
1 boy we held back and put him in kindergarten at 6 yrs old.
We based our decision on maturity level and how they interacted with other kids and not on how smart we thought they were. We have always assumed that our kids are A students.
Unless he is begging to be put into school, keep him with you as long as you can. He will be in school and work the rest of his life, but only a little child with you for a few years. I’m going to keep my baby girl at home with me as long as I can.
My oldest graduates this year with a 3.9 gpa and is already set on college.
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