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Preschool: Getting Your Child Ready for Kindergarten

From birth to kindergarten, children grow up so quickly. Baby coos turn into syllables, which become words, and the next thing you know you have a preschooler speaking in full sentences! Suddenly your child can count and sing their alphabet and even draw a letter or two. All these emerging skills you see in your preschooler are building blocks for what they’ll need to know when they go to kindergarten. Some of it, they seem to pick up by osmosis; repeating everything they hear and talking about everything they see. Other skills, you know you’ve shown them, they’ve seen in books, or they’ve learned from their favorite show. But, after all that they’ve learned from looking and listening, there are still some skills that have to be taught, and that’s where a great preschool comes in! By partnering with the surrounding school districts, preschools can make sure that children who graduate from their program are armed with all the skills they need necessary for their success.

Isn’t it exciting to hear your preschooler count for the first time? And how amazing is it to hear them singing the alphabet song all around the house? It’s always incredible to hear all the things your child is learning, and they are so excited and proud to show off their new skills! But did you know that counting and learning their ABC’s are actually pre-math and pre-reading skills? Soon they’ll be counting objects, recognizing letters, and trying to write! Preschoolers start off with these basic skills and build on them to learn everything they need to go off to kindergarten. By the time they leave preschool, they should be writing their first name, identifying letters and knowing what sounds they each make, rhyming words, and so, so much more! It’s such an exciting time and they learn so quickly! Ensuring that you have a great preschool honing these skills will make sure that you have a happy, confident, and ready kindergartener when the time comes.

But kindergarten readiness doesn’t stop at academics. Appropriate problem solving and social skills are essential to your child’s success. Whether it’s keeping their hands to themselves, sitting quietly for a short period of time, or using the bathroom independently, there are many skills that your child learns in a preschool setting that will help them transition easily into the structure of a kindergarten classroom. When they go to school and experience familiar routines and expectations, as well as being confident that they have a strong foundation, it’s a recipe for kindergarten success!

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As parents, we know how incredibly bright our children are. And they are! Each and every child has enormous potential to learn! But it is true that all children differ in their development. Just like some children walk earlier, some children pick up on skills like counting sooner than others. There’s a range of “typical” development for children, and it can vary quite a bit. That’s the great thing about having a good preschool! Your child has teachers who are trained to know when children are lagging behind, and they have the skills to help them learn what they need! Best of all, in a preschool setting, it should still be taught in a fun and engaging way that will keep your child focused and confident. A great preschool can get your child ready for kindergarten, and lay the foundation for a lifetime love of learning!