Determining if your child is ready for preschool involves a combination of considerations. While age is important, developmental, social, and emotional readiness are crucial factors. Read on for a breakdown of key areas to assess.
Key Preschool Readiness Indicators:
- Social and Emotional Maturity:
- Separation Anxiety: It’s natural to feel a little anxious about the first day of school, and some first-day jitters are perfectly normal for both of you. Can your child handle being away from you for a few hours? Prolonged distress may indicate they’re not quite ready.
- Interaction with Others: Observe your child interacting with other children. Does he or she show interest in playing with others? Are they beginning to learn how to share and take turns?
- Following Directions: Can they follow simple instructions?
- Emotional Regulation: Can they handle their emotions, and recover from upsets in an age appropriate way?
- Cognitive Skills
- Does your child engage in simple, hands-on tasks? These types of activities require focus for a period of time, like sorting a pile of toys or building a tower with blocks. Following instructions and focusing are cognitive skills that play a part in preschool readiness.
- Does your child show interest in learning and exploring? Watch your child play and look for behaviors such as inventing stories, building complex structures, or exploring materials with curiosity. Do they enjoy books or gravitate toward certain subject matters?
- Following a Routine:
- Preschools have schedules. Can your child adapt to transitions between activities? Routines at home support routines in school.
- Potty Training and Self-Care:
- Many preschools, like Owl Hill Learning Academy, typically expect children to be potty trained.
- Basic self-care skills, such as handwashing, dressing, and simple hygiene, are also important.
Support Preschool Readiness at Home
We are so happy that you are considering giving your child the benefits of early childhood education! Between now and the first day, we encourage you to take the initiative to promote preschool readiness at home.
- Encourage your child to interact with other children with play dates or visits to the park. Observe their behavior in social settings.
- Practice simple routines and provide them opportunities to complete age-appropriate tasks.
- Guide them to use their imagination and share new experiences with them.
And of course, schedule a tour of Owl Hill Learning Academy. We can’t wait to meet you!