Preschool is a big step in your young child’s life. It marks a big change in your child’s day-to-day experiences and sets the foundation for VPK, kindergarten, and beyond. This essential time of learning and socialization is extremely beneficial when supported by both a stellar preschool and parents.
So, how can you make sure your child is preschool ready? We’re here with some tips that you can work on before the summer holidays are over, to give your child the easiest start in fall.
How To Get Ready For Preschool
Preschool is a giant change for young children. Until now, they’ve probably spent most (if not all) of their time with you, at home, with close family, and a few family friends. Preschool pushes children out of their comfort zones and encourages them to learn and grow in an educational setting.
This might be the first time that your children are without you for a large part of the day– naturally, this can come with some teething problems. However, working through them is vital to foster your child’s personal and educational development. After all, the skills learned in early childhood development will last them a lifetime.
- Start a morning routine: A morning routine might be one of your hardest struggles. Young children can’t quite grasp the importance of being on time yet– even if you’re painfully aware of it. On the first day of preschool, this might lead to stress and overwhelm if your child isn’t fully prepared. Start getting “ready” for preschool on a few mornings this summer. Practice getting out of bed, into day clothes, brushing teeth, and eating breakfast. Your child will learn what getting ready for the day entails, and this will make your actual preschool mornings easier to navigate.
- Encourage early learning: You don’t have to wait for preschool for the learning to start! Always encourage early learning activities and curiosity at home. Let your preschooler ask questions, read them stories, and do arts and crafts activities. These work on their fine and gross motor skills, preparing them for writing and problem solving in a classroom environment.
- Trial run separation: If your child hasn’t been attending a daycare, they’re likely not used to being away from you for several hours at a time. While preschool teachers are well-equipped to deal with some strong emotions, practicing separation can help your child adjust emotionally. Consider arranging a playdate with grandparents or with a family friend, and let your preschooler experience standing on their own two feet for a few hours.
- Visit your preschool together: Separation will be much easier to handle if your child is already familiar with their preschool. Contact your preschool to book a tour of the classrooms, playground, and school buildings. You can introduce this new place to your preschooler in a comfortable way– together– so when they walk in alone, it’s a place they already know. They can be introduced to their teacher and other key members of staff. As a parent, a tour also familiarizes you with the school’s layout and safety procedures, giving you extra peace of mind.
- Teach self-care: Self-care can be overwhelming for preschoolers, but in an educational setting, it’s vital for them to practice. Do they know how to brush their teeth? Can they ask to go to the bathroom? Do they know how to tell a teacher if they’re feeling sick? All of these skills will help your child feel more comfortable in a preschool environment, and they’ll also help your child’s teacher to see to their needs efficiently.
- Prepare them for preschool tasks: Preschool comes with a lot of instructions. Some of these they might already be familiar with– like “sit down” and “be quiet”. However, there are some new classroom-specific instructions and tasks that they might not know. For example, circle time: have a practice run of circle time at home, grouping together for reading before bed. Practice simple cleaning and tidying tasks, like putting pencils and paints away after working on an art project.
The Benefits of Preschool and VPK
Preschool and VPK are an excellent social and academic foundation for formal schooling. Your children learn so much more being in a social environment than purely learning alone, and this is evident in their people skills, empathy, and manners. The other key advantage of preschool and VPK programs is the excellent staff. Professionals trained in early learning and child development create and administer these programs, ensuring that your child gets the best opportunities to learn.
Regularly attending preschool also makes the transition to formal schooling easier. Just like starting preschool is an adjustment, starting with a VPK program or kindergarten can be jarring for a child who’s not used to routine. In comparison, the expectations from kindergarten are much higher than those for preschool. Early learning from a young age, as early as possible, also helps foster curiosity and a desire to learn in children.
Preschoolers primarily learn through play. They’re not learning out of textbooks or sitting behind a desk all day. They’re actively participating in learning and creative tasks that are educational while still being entertaining. These activities teach them how to work with other students to complete tasks, how to share resources, and how to communicate effectively and kindly.
Preschool At Providence Children’s Academy in Coconut Creek
Here at Providence Children’s Academy, we pride ourselves on offering the best preschool and Florida VPK programs we can. We have staff that truly care about their students and early learning development, and we have excellent facilities to encourage learning, play, and socialization.
Safety is our number one priority, so we’re more than happy to give you and your child a tour of our school to learn more about what we offer. We back up our classroom learning with nutritionally balanced meals, extensive safety precautions, rigorous cleaning standards, and outdoor physical play. Contact us at 954-570-6914 to find out more about how we deliver early learning excellence.