How much experience has she had playing with other kids? Does she like it, does she do it well? If your 3 year old is still just into parallel play , she may not be ready to join a classroom just yet. Typically 3 year olds are starting to play with each other and are engaging in imaginative play, both key components of preschool programs. And your 3 year old needs to be socially aware of how to treat other children before she should start preschool.
Sometimes preschools will help with potty-training, but many require that this skill is mastered before enrolling. Potty training is such a milestone developmentally, it can be a strong indication of preschool readiness. Does she have the fine motor skills for handling classroom materials, or the gross motor skills to handle the playground equipment?
Sure, preschool is where they fine tune these skills, but your 2 or 3 year old should have the motor control to keep up with her classmates in order to be successful at preschool. It's not whether they can read by age 4 or multiply by 5," says Flynn. An ideal curriculum? Parading around in dress-up clothes, building forts, and being read to. Most preschools serve 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds, and many kids begin at age 4. You can choose from a part-time schedule or a full-time one.
Your choice will depend on your family's situation -- working moms might prefer five days a week -- and on your child's temperament. Parents typically start investigating options about a year before they want their children to attend. But if you live in a big city, where competition for spots can be fierce, you'll want to start applying even earlier and to more than one place.
Research, research, research. First, decide on location close to work or home? There are programs at private schools, daycare centers, religious institutions like synagogues and churches , state-funded schools, and cooperatives run by parents. Start by asking for recommendations from other moms.
Next, check whether the schools are state-licensed, which ensures the facility meets safety requirements and has adequate staffing visit naccrra. Many states exempt religious-based preschools from all or some requirements -- although many meet these standards anyway. The gold standard of approval is accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. NAEYC carefully evaluates schools and childcare centers based on curriculum, teacher qualifications, class size, and health and safety standards; only about 8 percent of U.
In addition, many preschools now have Web sites that you should visit. Call each school you're considering and ask about its fees, admission policy, and curriculum. Once you've narrowed down your choices, schedule visits. Most preschools run open houses during the winter. Also, meet with the director and spend time in a classroom to observe the teachers.
Visit each school with your child and see how she responds to the classroom, the teachers, and the activities. Check out the basics: Is the facility clean and safe? Keep your eye out for smoke detectors and first-aid kits.
Is there a well-kept outdoor play area? Are there plenty of art materials, age-appropriate toys, and books? Are they in good condition? Is the atmosphere friendly and fun? Student work should be displayed in the hallways and around the classroom, hung at kid-level. If all the pictures look the same, then your child will learn to make a bunny just like everyone else's.
That's not really the goal. The classroom should have a variety of activity areas -- a reading place, an art station with materials on shelves that kids can reach, a block corner, a puzzle area, and a place for naps. You could look at photos of the preschool together and talk about some of the things that are different from home, like the toilets and playground. Keeping things low key can be a good idea too.
Read books about preschool Here are some good books for children about starting preschool:. Visit the local library Visiting the local library for story times can help your child get used to listening to books as part of a group. Here are some tips and strategies to help you and your child in the early days and weeks of starting preschool.
Start gradually Many preschools invite parents to stay for a while during the day in the early days. Speak with the preschool teacher and work out a plan that works for you, your child and the preschool. Have a routine for preschool mornings Routines can help your child feel safe and secure, particularly when new things are happening. You could set up a routine for preschool mornings — for example, get up, have breakfast, clean teeth, get dressed, put on sunscreen, pack lunchbox and go.
You could even make a chart with pictures showing the different steps in your routine. You could choose a special place to say goodbye, or an activity to do before you go. Make sure your child is paying attention when you say goodbye, then say goodbye once and leave.
A lot of goodbyes can be stressful for both you and your child.
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