In the previous blog post, the team at Dyer’s Wonder Years Learning Center gave you tips for preparing your child for preschool and helping them start the year off right. We’ll continue on that topic here, with even more ways to ensure your child’s preschool success and enjoyment!
Read books with your child.
However, reading isn’t just about reading—it’s about listening. Your child can learn plenty of essential listening skills and reading comprehension skills by paying attention to the story you’re telling them. You can ask them questions like “Who is the main character of the story?” and “What happened in the story?” and even simple questions like “Did you enjoy the story? Why?” This will get your child thinking about reading and listening and will help them learn more effectively as a preschool student.
Teach self-help skills.
Even though your child is still young, it’s important to train them on a number of self-help skills so they can be more independent in preschool and beyond. Get them used to skills like using the toilet, putting on shoes, washing hands, and using dining utensils at the dinner table. These skills will make the lives of your child’s preschool instructors easier, and will usher in a new era of cognitive and physical development for your child.
Adjust your child’s daily routine.
Going to school for the first time can be a big change for you and your child, affecting sleeping and eating schedules and changing when and how you can accomplish certain daily. As you child goes through their first few weeks of preschool, see how well you current daily routine is working and make adjustments as necessary. Maybe you need to leave 15 minutes earlier for work, or maybe your child needs to get a little extra sleep to be fully energized for the day’s preschool activities. Whatever the case, adjust your schedule to make your life (and your child’s adjustment to preschool) easier.
Stay involved with your child’s preschool.
Preschool is a big step in terms of your child’s independence. For many kids, it can be difficult to spend time away from home and their parents, which can cause a great deal of anxiety and make it difficult for them to learn and take part in the experience. If your child is having trouble detaching, that’s completely normal at the preschool age—so take action to slowly help them become more independent before you leave them at preschool for the day.
Spending 15 or 20 minutes with your child at the very beginning of the school day can help them ease into the day and grow comfortable with their environment. Your words of encouragement mean a lot to your child, so simply saying “good job” or “you’re doing great” will help them relax before you take off. Phrases like “I’ll be back to pick you up soon” are also and excellent way to reassure your child.
If your child struggles with detaching on a daily basis, it’s very important to have clear communication with your child’s preschool instructors. You can both monitor the progress of your child and work together to make the transition to preschool easier.
Choose Wonder Years Learning Center
Wonder Years Learning Center has been voted as the best childcare center in northwest Indiana, providing quality preschool, toddler, and infant care programs for Dyer, Munster, and the surrounding areas. Get in touch with us if you have questions, or enroll today!