How to prepare your Child for Preschool
Preparing children for preschool is a dilemma most parents face. You may have or are facing the same too. Preschool is an interesting phase of a child’s school life. They will be trained for an academic environment which they’ll embrace in the future.
Preparing them for preschool makes them feel comfortable and cared for in a preschool. So, it is an issue which needs sensitive handling. Also, there is no need to prepare them too much as it may cause confusion.
Routines that’ll help prepare for preschool
Certain routines will help children prepare themselves for preschool in a natural way. These involve morning and bedtime routines that children will start emulating with time.
- Morning routines: Some morning routines to be set for children include making the bed, brushing their teeth and hair, getting dressed, having breakfast, and even arranging their personal belongings.
- Bedtime routines: It includes changing into sleepwear, brushing teeth, reading a book, saying prayers, maybe singing a song, having a light talk and tucking in.
- Opportunities to learn: Don’t let go of opportunities to teach your child when the moment comes. Children learn a lot of things by observing, but they learn better when guided. This could be about teaching them humane values or general knowledge.
- Reading habit: Make sure your child makes reading a habit. It comes with a lot of advantages, such as improved language, comprehension and vocabulary.
- Let children socialise: Before children enter preschool, encourage them to interact and play with the children in their neighbourhood, at your friend’s place or even at the functions and parties you attend.
- Reassure your children: This is something which will help your children a lot. Telling your children about your experience in your initial preschool days will reassure them a lot. If you have photos from those days, make sure your children see them.
- Teach basic skills as games: This could be really fun and educational. Basic things, such as putting on the buttons, zip, school bag, etc., can be taught in a playful manner.
- Listen to your child well: You could sit with your child and ask them questions about their feelings about preschool. After listening to their responses, you could reassure them of their uneasy feelings.
Prepare for preschool and make it easy for children
You could imitate a preschool at home by putting on the role of a teacher and placing your child as the student. You could reverse these roles too. It creates a preschool training environment. Also, take your child on a visit to their preschool in advance to make them accustomed to the surroundings.
The routines discussed above prepare children mentally and physically before they enter preschool. Hence, it becomes easier to gel in with the classroom environment. Children will be sensitive to many things and hence, handled with care at this phase in life.
Johnson Grammar School is the leading international school in Hyderabad, with more than four decades of legacy. If you are looking at putting your child in preschool, you are in the best place. Please feel free to contact us.
