Preparing Your Little Ones for Preschool and Kindergarten – Mrs. Lori Anderson

As we gear up for the exciting adventure of preschool and kindergarten, Mrs. Lori Anderson’s invaluable insights guide us on the best ways to prepare our children for this significant milestone. Our goal remains to provide high-quality education and care, nurturing development in social-emotional skills, language and literacy, math, science, creative arts, and fine and gross motor skills.

Eligibility: All students must be the appropriate age for their class. K4 students must be 4 by September 1st. K5 students must be 5 by September 1st.

Rest Time: Rest time is an important part of our daily classroom schedule and is mandatory for every student. Not everyone will fall asleep, but it is a time of rest for the entire class.

How Can I Prepare My Child for Preschool/Kindergarten?

1. Read: Read to your child. Read every day. Have books in every room, in your bag, and in the car. Read favorite books so often that you and your child have them memorized. Turn the pages from left to right. Handle the book with gentle hands. Visit the library frequently.

2. Talk: Developing your child’s oral language is a crucial part of preparing him for preschool. Turn off the movie and engage your child in discussion about the world around him. Ask questions. Talk about nature, and colors, and letters, and feelings. Put down your phone and listen when your child talks to you. Encourage your child to make eye contact and greet others with a “Hello” and a “Goodbye.”

3. Play: Spend time every day playing with your child. Encourage pretend play and role-playing. Laugh and have fun together. Offer your child time to play alone. Give your child the opportunity to decide what to do.

4. Encourage Independence: Children who can take care of some of their personal needs do better at the beginning of preschool than children who rely on adults for everything. Make sure your child has shoes that he can put on himself. Allow extra time before you need to leave the house each day so that your child can put on his shoes. Support your child in taking care of his own bathroom needs. If he asks for help with his pants, or with wiping, try talking him through it rather than doing it all for him. Teach your child to wash his own hands. It’s not glamorous, but these are important preschool skills. Start packing your child’s lunch in the lunch box he will be bringing to school. Have him practice opening the containers in his lunch. Show him what foods to eat first. Teach him how to keep his table area neat.

5. Practice: Give your child time away from you. Practice separating and giving your child a little bit of space. Invite other children over for play dates and allow your child to go on short play dates as well. Practice following directions. Play games to sharpen listening skills. Can your child follow 2-step directions?

By adopting these practices, we aim to create a nurturing environment that promotes not only academic growth but also the development of essential life skills. Let’s embark on this journey together, fostering a love for learning in our little ones.