Is My Child Ready for Preschool?

As a young parent, I remember having a tough time deciding what to do about preschool for my first child, but I didn’t know where to go or who to ask (and I was a school psychologist!).  Thinking back, it’s kind of embarrassing.  My husband and I made our decision about preschool based on extended childcare needs and which center in our town had a good reputation and hours to meet our schedules.  We didn’t consider asking the public schools for help.  We also didn’t think about “readiness” until the teacher of the toddler class at my son’s school said he was developmentally ready to move to the “preschool” group, but he wasn’t potty trained. Uh oh.  My, how much I’ve learned since then!  So, how do you know if your child is ready?

One of the best ways to find out is to bring your child to the free preschool screening done by your public school.  In Ledyard, that happens twice a year, in October and in March.  We usually screen three year olds in the fall and four year olds in the spring, but we are glad to see any child who is 3 or 4 (but not eligible kindergarteners), especially if parents have concerns. 

So, what do we look for when we screen?  Our team (preschool teachers, speech pathologists, a school psychologist and the school nurse) looks at your child’s cognitive development, motor skills, speech and language and we do a hearing and vision check. I get to play with some wonderful young children, sit on tiny chairs and practice my block building and hopping on one foot—what could be better?  It all takes about an hour.  Parents also help us out by filling out a few questionnaires about things we wouldn’t get to observe, such as independence with eating, sleeping (and yes, potty-training), as well as your child’s social-emotional development.

If screening shows that your child meets the expectations for their chronological age in all the categories, he or she is developmentally ready for preschool.  But what, you may ask, if my child doesn’t “pass”?  That’s okay.  This isn’t an entry test.  Remember, every child is unique and develops at his or her own pace. There will be lots of information about stages of development you can pick up while you are there.  We also have handouts with suggestions on fun preschool activities to try at home to help with different skill areas.  If there are significant concerns about your child’s development in any area, the school staff will guide you through next steps and options for supporting your child’s individual needs.

So, if you are not sure if your child is ready for preschool, you want to know what preschool programs are available in town, or you just want to know how your child is developing, contact the Ledyard Public Schools Early Childhood Department at 860-572-0259.  Screening days are March 29^th and 30^th at Gallup Hill School.

For more information on this topic, click here for an article called, “How to tell if your child is ready for preschool”, by Patricia Shimm and Sarah Henry.

Did this post help you? Let me know.  Leave me a comment or send me a question on a topic that’s important to you! I plan to write each week on topics of interest to families such as child development, behavior, mental health, and parenting.