It is important to consider many factors when you start to think about your child starting preschool. Every child will develop at a slightly different rate, so there isn’t a set age at which a child should start preschool. If you are considering having your child start preschool, here are some things that you need to keep in mind in order to make the best decision for you and your child. If you have already decided to enroll your child in preschool, check out our post on tips to simplify the first day of preschool. Thorough preparation and research can go a long way toward easing your related processes.
When Should your Child Start Preschool?
Most children begin preschool around the age of 3 or 4. However, age isn’t the determining factor as to when your child should start preschool. It depends more on the state of development that your child has reached and the skills that they have obtained. Every child is unique and different, so it is important to keep all of these considerations in mind to ensure that your child is ready for preschool. These are just a few things that you will need to consider before enrolling your child in preschool.
Separation Issues
Consider whether your child has ever spent significant amounts of time away from you. If they haven’t, they may experience some level of separation anxiety when they are introduced to preschool. This can be difficult for both the child and the parent. Consider how well your child does without you, as well as how easily they adjust to changes, before enrolling them in preschool. In addition, sometimes children that have previously been in a daycare environment have an easier time adjusting to preschool. This is mainly due to the fact that they have spent time away from their parents. You should also keep in mind that preschool may help to ease the transition to kindergarten, so it may be a particularly useful step to take when you’re child nears the kindergarten age.
Potty Trained
Most preschools require your child to be potty trained before they can be enrolled. This doesn’t mean that they can never have an accident, but they should generally be potty trained before they begin to regularly attend preschool. If your child isn’t yet potty trained, they probably aren’t quite ready to join a preschool yet. Every child will become potty trained at a different age, which is another reason that there is no specific age at which every child will be ready to attend preschool.
Communication Skills
No one expects a toddler to be able to communicate particularly well or efficiently. Although you have likely become fluent in their unique communication techniques, the preschool teacher probably won’t be. It is important for a child to have somewhat developed communication skills prior to beginning preschool. This is important, because if they aren’t able to communicate, they will likely experience substantial feelings of frustration. Other children may become frustrated, as well. This will also ensure that they are able to inform an adult whenever they are having an issue, or something is wrong.
Their Nap Routine
Most preschools will have some level of nap time or period for children to rest throughout the day. However, these rest periods are often limited to the daily schedule. If your child regularly naps for 2 hours or longer, they likely need more rest than they will get during a preschool day. Don’t enroll your child in preschool until their naps average around an hour or less, to ensure that they can effectively make it through the day.
Getting Along with Others
Preschool certainly provides ample opportunities for children to improve their cooperation and communication skills. In addition, every child is likely to have a conflict with another at some point, especially when it comes to sharing toys or working in cooperation. However, it is important that they are able to somewhat get along with other children before they begin to attend preschool. This often goes hand in hand with communication, as the ability to communicate will allow them to understand and speak with other children. Ensure that your child plays well with others before you introduce them to preschool.
Listening Skills
Children generally have short attention spans. This can make it difficult to persuade them to follow all of your directions. However, it is important that children in preschool have the ability to listen to instructions and follow simple directions. This will ensure the most effective learning process, as well as prevent many issues from occurring.
Consult with Pediatrician
You may want to consider discussing your upcoming decision with your child’s pediatrician. This will ensure that you are aware of any medical issues that may cause issues for your child in preschool. A pediatrician will also be able to inform you regarding your child’s current level of development in order to make the best decision for your child.
The Benefits of Preschool
There are many benefits to your child attending preschool. It helps to provide effective preparation for kindergarten, which can help ease the transition to attending school. In addition, preschool provides a regular structure for your child. Many experts agree on the importance of a regular routine for children. There is a substantial amount of social interaction in preschool, so attending preschool can go a long way toward improving your child’s social skills. Preschool also helps to teach independence and encourage your child to begin accomplishing tasks on their own. Most preschools also encourage physical activity, which can go a long way toward improving the health of your child.
Contact Us
Here at Corner Canyon Academy, we are dedicated to providing your child with the skills and knowledge that they need to ease their way into kindergarten. These skills can substantially improve their life and build a firm foundation. To learn more about how to tell that your child is ready to attend preschool, contact us at Corner Canyon Academy today!
Leave a Reply