KIDSTOWN Learning Center

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PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS: 5 SIGNS YOUR CHILD IS READY FOR PRESCHOOL LEARNING

Feb 15, 2019

As a parent of a preschool-aged child, it can be hard to know when your child is ready for preschool learning. It can be even harder choosing between different preschool programs in your area.  

At Kidstown Learning Center in Lake Worth, we understand that sending your child to preschool is a big parenting milestone, but we are here to help you and your child adjust to preschool.

Beyond preparing children for kindergarten, preschool is an important place for the development of different skills. Preschool programs help grow those different skills in children, including:

  • Cultivating their socialization skills. This includes working with others, problem-solving, and sharing.
  • Learning to recognize different colors, shapes, numbers, and letters.
  • Increasing fine and gross motor skills with activities like coloring, cutting, and picking up toys after they’re done playing with them.  

At Kidstown Learning Center in Lake Worth, our preschool program is for children ages two to four. When your child is between those ages, it is a good time to start thinking about preschool. If you’re not sure when your child will be preschool-ready, there are some signs your child can display to let you know that they would thrive in a preschool learning environment.

Is your child ready for preschool?

There are several ways to know if your child is ready for the preschool learning environment.

Independence

How independent is your child? When your child starts showing certain levels of independence, this is a good time to provide them with preschool learning opportunities. The environment created by preschool programs will allow your child to cultivate that independence and curiosity, making your child eager to continue learning.

Your child’s independence also comes from their ability to spend time away from you and your family. During that time at school, they learn to trust others, including their teachers and peers, and they learn to problem solve without help from someone else.

Structured Learning

Does your child follow a daily or weekly schedule? Many preschool programs follow the same schedule each day, creating a structured preschool learning environment. If your child is used to a busy, structured day, then they might be ready for preschool.

On the other hand, if your child does not follow a schedule (or has a hard time adjusting to new things), you can start introducing different routines into their day, like a bedtime ritual and eating meals at a set time. When they attend preschool, your child will continue to be introduced to those daily patterns in a fun and nurturing environment.

Working With Others

Can your child work with others and complete group activities? In different preschool programs, your child will have to sit through story times and interact with other children during group activities. If you think your child can handle these different types of interactions, that is a good sign they are ready for preschool.

By playing with other children, your child will learn to share and interact with others. Developing these socialization skills will also help your child understand empathy. By completing simple tasks like cleaning up or setting out snacks, children learn to take care of both themselves and their peers. When new children start preschool, then your child will have the foundation to teach those new children the rules and schedule.

Physical and Emotional Energy

How much energy does your child have? Most preschool programs schedule a nap time after lunch, but the rest of the day is filled with different activities and programs. If your child is eager to explore and learn, then the preschool learning environment will continue fostering that and provide them outlets for that energy and curiosity.

However, if your child still gets cranky after a long morning and needs multiple naps during the day, you might want to wait on enrolling your child in preschool. Making sure your child gets a full-night’s rest will also help them have enough energy each day.

Reasoning Behind Preschool

This is perhaps the most important thing to consider: why do you want to send your child to preschool? Many parents worry that their children might be developmentally behind their peers or inadequately prepared for kindergarten if they don’t start preschool right away. That’s not necessarily true, though.

In fact, there are direct correlations between a child’s success and the quality of child care. When a preschool-aged child has someone who genuinely cares about them and their quality of care, they are far more likely to be prepared for school socially and cognitively. As long as you care about your child and their care, your child will do well.

If your child shows eagerness and willingness to learn, that’s a good indication that they will do well in preschool. Sending them to preschool will give them ample opportunities to foster and develop those different passions.

Prepare for Preschool

Once you have decided to enroll your child in preschool, it can be hard to narrow down the list of preschool programs. Kidstown Learning Center in Lake Worth is here to help both you and your child through this new milestone in your life. Enroll your child in preschool today.