How to Prepare Your Child for Preschool
Posted on: 24 August 2018
One of the most significant events in a child's life is joining preschool. Parents find themselves having a hard time deciding which preschool best fits their child. Even after finding an appropriate school, they still worry that their child may have a difficult time adapting to the school environment. However, with adequate preparation, your child should have an easy time adjusting to preschool. Below are tips on how to prepare your child for preschool.
1. Encourage independence.
At home, your child is dependent on you or the nanny to help out with simple tasks. At preschool, your child might not have that kind of attention. Teach your child how to wear his or her jacket, zip it up, tie shoelaces, and wash his or her face. With time, you will realise that the child no longer needs assistance to perform basic tasks.
2. Build courage.
At the preschool, your child will not have your protection. One of the best ways to build courage in a child is encouraging communication. Teach your child how to speak out his or her feelings. Teach him or her how to be comfortable around strangers. A simple way to accomplish this is taking the child to the park to socialise with other kids. If you stay at home with your child, it may be time for him or her to know how it feels not having you around. As such, you may take the child to visit a relative for a few days.
3. Program your child to the school routine.
Once your child joins preschool, he or she might have to wake up a bit earlier than usual. Under the school program, there will be a specific time for class, play, and feeding. Begin with teaching your child some of the things he or she will learn at preschool. Find a fun way of teaching him or her to build their interest in class activities. A few days before joining preschool, start waking him or her up a bit earlier. You can also change the feeding routine to one resembling that of the preschool.
4. Visit the pre-school.
A few days before joining preschool, take your child to the school to familiarise them with the environment. Meet with the teacher and let your child make acquaintance. Visit the play areas and play for a few minutes. Your primary objective is to make the child feel that preschool will be fun.
Adequate preparation before preschool reduces worry among parents and ensures a child adapts easily to the school environment. Contact local child care providers for more tips and insight so you and your child feel ready for this big change.
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