Preparing Your Child For Preschool

By Author: Ellie Dixon
Total Articles: 21
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While there's no formal preparation necessary for preschool there's nothing wrong with a little head start. Get your child familiar with some of the basics of preschool activity beforehand. You can do this by:

Learning to co-operate

Your child will be expected to take turns and work or play with other kids at preschool, so whenever you are able, practise at home. Try sharing the same teddy and putting pieces into a puzzle; or why not try working together when, for example, hanging out the washing - you take out the clothes and your toddler hands you the pegs.

Learning names

Your child won't be expected to be able to read his or her name when he or she starts at preschool, but being familiar with what the name looks like, and what letter it starts with can be helpful when so many things at preschool will be marked with it. Write your toddler's name on their pictures, on the fridge in magnetic letters, with a stick in the sandpit, wherever it's possible to do so. Don't pressurise him or her to learn to recognise it at this stage however.

Packing a lunch box

If your child will be taking ...
... lunch to preschool, then pick out a nice new lunch box together - maybe one with his or her favorite storybook or cartoon characters on it. A few days before the first day at preschool start packing his or her lunch into the box and encourage your child eat from it at the kitchen table. Start sharing chores

If you haven't been asking your child to assist you with simple chores, then now's the time to start. Begin with|Concentrate on} tasks that he or she might be asked to help with at preschool, such as clearing the table, or hanging up coats.

Giving directions

Make following directions into a game - try calling out several in a row, eg pick up that hairbrush, brush teddy's hair two times, give teddy a kiss and put him on the chair please. Again, don't be concerned if your child doesn't follow the directions consistently - he or she will probably take the staff at preschool much more seriously than you!

Offer choices

Children do have to make some decisions at preschool. Give them some practice by giving your child choices whenever possible. For example, "Do you want to play with your teddy or your building blocks?" "Do you want apple or banana?""Do you want cereal or toast for breakfast?"

Provide structure

If your lifestyle tends to be of the spontaneous, unstructured kind, then start to incorporate some routine into your child's day in the weeks before he or she starts preschool to get them used to the idea of a routine day.

Socialising

Arrange plenty of play dates in the weeks before preschool begins to develop your child's confidence with other children. But don't arrange too many - your child may grow tired of socialising before school even begins!

Remember - beginning at preschool should be a good experience. If your preschool runs an adjustment period in which parents and caregivers can take part, then seize this opportunity, it will assist your child to settle into this strange new environment. When the time does come to leave, don't sneak off without saying good-bye, even if this means tears. Be sure to tell your child when you'll be back - and keep that promise. Leave with a smile on your face that tells your child you're confident that she or he is going to have a wonderful day!!