instructions, something that he will encounter in preschool. Ask them to put their shoes away or hang their coat up or help to clean up after their snack. This will help them get ready for the simple instructions they’ll start getting in preschool. Another thing to think about when considering preschool readiness is whether or not your child can participate in group activities. For the younger kids going into two-year-old preschool, this might not be such a big concern at first, since most children that age aren’t quite ready to engage too much with their peers and are more into parallel play, but you can start them out with trying some group activities by taking them to playgroups at the library or Children’s Museum that can be similar to preschool activities. Simply getting them used to playing around other children in a group can help them get ready to participate in the types of games and circle time activities they’ll take part in when going to preschool. Your child’s schedule and energy level are further important indicators of preschool readiness. Most
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schools will offer a morning and an afternoon option, so figuring out which one works best for your child and their schedule rather than trying to work against it will make everyone happier with the preschool transition. Even though it can be a short time, keep in mind that preschool can be demanding for a toddler, there is usually some playground time and lots of physical activity packed into that mini school “day”. While children are at preschool, they are learning emotionally, cognitively, physically and socially. They spend a lot of time practicing gross and fine motor skills and developing their new skills in language and communication. Your little one may not have much to show for their day at preschool, but a lot happens at preschool that is not immediately apparent – the activity is seen, but not the learning. Lastly, one easy thing you can do with your child is visit the school they might be attending. Familiarity can go a long way for a stress-free preschool transition. Call up the prospective schools and check them out ahead of time—you can get all the details on when and where in the Mamatoga Preschool Section.
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