PRESCHOOL PREP
It’s an exciting time when your child is ready to learn and play outside the home. Preschool helps children to develop friendships, practice communication and grow as individuals. “It’s a wonderful gift to give your child,” says Allyson Kennett, a San Diego preschool teacher. “There may be some initial growing pains as you and your child adjust, but the skills and independence gained will be well worth it!”
Benefits of Preschool Researchers agree that children who attend preschool are better prepared for kindergarten than those who don’t. At preschool, children will practice social skills, explore new ways to play and become familiar with a classroom environment. “Preschool is a time of amazing leaps in social-emotional development for children,” says Kennett. Preschool parents can
26 • SanDiegofamily.com • Baby Guide 2019
expect to observe growth in their child’s independence and language skills. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for youngsters to form positive relationships with peers and adults outside their family.
Is Your Child Ready? Most programs welcome children beginning at age 2 or 3. Since students are quite young, communication is a major concern for schools. “Preschoolers need to be able to express themselves in a way that an unfamiliar adult can understand,” Kennett says. “That doesn’t mean your child needs to speak in full sentences, just that she has an appropriate way of getting her feelings and needs across.” And while many schools require children to be reliably potty-trained, teachers know to expect setbacks and accidents during transitional weeks when a child starts school.
Anne Malinoski
How to Choose a Preschool Referrals are an excellent way to find good preschool programs. Ask friends and relatives which schools have the best reputation in your area. Plan to visit more than one, so you can compare the indoor and outdoor play spaces, warmth of the teaching staff and sense of community. It’s best to visit prospective schools several months before you plan to enroll. San Diego schools often have wait lists. Enrollment priority is typically granted to siblings of current students or children requiring fulltime care. Plan ahead!
Learn more about finding the right preschool and access San Diego Family Magazine’s Education Directory at www.sandiegofamily.com/ resources/educationdirectory. How to Prepare In the months and weeks leading up to the first day of preschool, encourage independence during playtime. Preschool teachers can’t provide the same amount of oneon-one interaction that children experience at home, so it helps if kids are confident working with a coloring book or bin of blocks for 5-10 minutes without assistance. “Try to visit the school together if possible, as children are very visual and the abstract idea of a ‘new school’ is difficult for many to grasp,” says Kennett. Parents and students might benefit from discussing the daily schedule with the teacher before school starts so kids know what to expect during class.
