Getting Ready to Learn – What Your Child Needs to Know Before Entering Preschool

As a concerned and loving parent, you naturally want the best for your child. As your son or daughter grows and starts being more independent, your thoughts may turn to choosing a preschool. A top-notch preschool can get your child off to the best possible start in life and set the tone for kindergarten and beyond. You can help your son or daughter a great deal by choosing a great preschool, but you can help even more by making sure your child enters school ready to learn.

Basic Skills

There are a few things you can do to prepare your child for their first day at preschool. The transition between home life and preschool can be difficult and even traumatic, but you can make it easier by encouraging your child to be as independent as possible. Teaching your child to get dressed, brush their teeth and wash their hands on their own will pay off big when the first day of preschool arrives.

Potty Training

Potty training is another task you may want to tackle before the first day of preschool. Some preschools require that their students be able to go to the toilet on their own, while others are willing to provide support. It is important to check the potty-training policy of the preschool you have chosen and make sure your child is ready for the first day of school.

Even if the school does not require it, having your child largely potty trained before the first day of preschool is a good idea. Potty training will give your son or daughter a higher level of independence and self-confidence and make learning a lot easier.

Social Skills

You will also want to make sure your child has tackled some basic social skills before entering preschool. If your child is an only child, arranging play dates and going on trips to the park can foster the development of social skills and positive interactions. Children who are accustomed to playing with their peers and sharing their toys may have an easier time adapting to the preschool environment than those who have not had an opportunity to develop those skills.

Preschool is a whole new adventure — for parents as well as their children. Taking the time to get your son or daughter ready now can make the transition from the home environment to the local preschool a lot easier and less stressful.