Is she ready
to participate in group activities?
Many
preschool activities, like "circle time," require that
all the children in a class participate at the same time. These
interactions give children a chance to play and learn together,
but also require them to sit still, listen to stories, and sing
songs. This can be very difficult for kids under 3 who are naturally
active explorers and not always developmentally ready to play with
other children. If your child isn't used to group activities, you
can start introducing them yourself. Take her to story time at your
local library, for instance, or sign her up for a class such as
tumbling to help her get used to playing with other children.
Is he used
to keeping a regular schedule?
Preschools
usually follow a predictable routine: circle time, play time, snack,
playground, then lunch. There's a good reason for this. Children
tend to feel most comfortable and in control when the same things
happen at the same time each day. So if your child doesn't keep
to a schedule and each day is different from the last, it can help
to standardize his days a bit before he starts preschool. Start
by offering meals on a regular timetable. You could also plan to
visit the park each afternoon or set - and stick to - a bedtime
ritual (bath, then books, and bed).
Does he have
the physical stamina for preschool?
Whether
it's a half-day or full-day program, preschool keeps kids busy.
There are art projects to do, field trips to take, and playgrounds
to explore. Does your child thrive on activities like this, or does
he have trouble moving from one thing to the next without getting
cranky? Another thing to consider is how and when your child needs
to nap. Preschools usually schedule nap time after lunch. If your
little one can keep going until then or even all day like a wind-up
toy, he's set. If he still needs a mid-morning snooze, it might
not be time yet to go to school. You can work toward building his
stamina by making sure he gets a good night's sleep. If you have
some flexibility in your schedule, you might also want to start
him off in a half-day program to ease him into the hustle and bustle
of preschool life, and gradually increase the length of his school
day as he gets more comfortable.
Why
do you want to send him to preschool?
Think
carefully about what your goals are for sending your child to preschool.
Do you just need time for yourself or daycare for your child? There
may be other options if it seems he isn't ready yet for the rigors
of school.
To
prepare your child for a group situation you could form a playgroup,
limiting it to 3 or 4 children, and have each child complete the Get Ready for School program together.
Are you worried
that if you don't enroll him in preschool he won't be ready for
kindergarten?
Most
experts agree that there are plenty of other ways for children to
develop the skills necessary to be successful in kindergarten, including
attending a good daycare facility or spending quality time at home
with you or another loving caregiver. A study by the National Institutes
of Child Health and Human Development found that children do best
if they're cared for by someone who is genuinely concerned about
their well-being and development, and who makes sure they're doing
a variety of age-appropriate activities. They needn't be enrolled
in an organized preschool for that.
If
you find that the main reasons you want to send your child to preschool
are that he seems eager to learn new things and explore, he isn't
getting enough stimulation at home or daycare, or he seems ready
to broaden his social horizons and interact with other children,
chances are it's the perfect time to start preschool.
Resource:
Patricia Henderson Shimm, director of the Barnard College Center
for Toddler Development in New York and co-author of Parenting Your
Toddler
T